Preparation and Performance Study of <scp>PLA‐</scp>/<scp>PBAT</scp>‐Based <scp>TPV</scp>

ABSTRACT Both the industrial and academic communities are committed to developing environmentally friendly materials in order to alleviate the white pollution problem caused by traditional plastics. In this paper, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT)‐based TPV was prepared via a dynamic vulcanization process. Briefly, the main initiator/crosslinker Bis (1‐(tert‐butylperoxyl)‐1‐methylethyl)‐benzene (BIBP) and the co‐crosslinker 1,3,5‐ Tri‐2‐propenyl‐1,3,5‐ triazine‐2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)‐trione (TAIC) were firstly mixed into PBAT and then blended with PLA using epoxidized cardanol esters (ECE) as their co‐plasticizer. The microscopic morphology, mechanical properties, and thermal properties of the blend were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the PLA/PBAT blends possess a bicontinuous structure, endowing them with elastic characteristics and good shape‐recovery properties. At an appropriate crosslinker content (0.2 wt%), the blend demonstrates excellent tensile strength (9.3 MPa) and a shape‐recovery rate of 63%. Additionally, the blend displays outstanding resilience (53%) and a low compression permanent set (21%). This study prepared PLA‐/PBAT‐based TPV using two of the most common biodegradable polyesters, and thus expanded the application scope of biodegradable plastics and presents the potential for substituting conventional TPV.