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Thermal, mechanical, rheological and morphological properties of poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic polyurethane blends for shape memory behavior.

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Title: Thermal, mechanical, rheological and morphological properties of poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic polyurethane blends for shape memory behavior.
Authors: Johar, Munirah1 (AUTHOR), Shafiq, Mohamad Danial1 (AUTHOR), Rusli, Arjulizan1 (AUTHOR) arjulizan@usm.my
Source: Journal of Polymer Research. May2026, Vol. 33 Issue 5, p1-20. 20p.
Subjects: Shape memory effect, Polymer blends, Thermal properties, Rheology, Morphology, Polylactic acid, Polyurethane elastomers, Mechanical behavior of materials
Abstract: This research investigates the shape memory behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blends, aiming to balance PLA's brittleness and limited recovery with TPU's flexibility and durability. Blends with varied PLA/TPU ratios were produced via melt blending and characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and rheological measurements to evaluate thermal, mechanical, and viscoelastic properties. The results revealed that increasing TPU content improved shape recovery, particularly in PLA50/TPU50, near the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PLA due to the soft segments of TPU facilitating an elastic response. Crystallinity improved in TPU-rich blends, demonstrating that TPU may stimulate the crystallization of PLA. Despite the improvements in flexibility and recovery, issues with phase compatibility and thermal stability were observed. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of PLA/TPU blends as tunable shape memory materials with optimized mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:This research investigates the shape memory behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blends, aiming to balance PLA's brittleness and limited recovery with TPU's flexibility and durability. Blends with varied PLA/TPU ratios were produced via melt blending and characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and rheological measurements to evaluate thermal, mechanical, and viscoelastic properties. The results revealed that increasing TPU content improved shape recovery, particularly in PLA50/TPU50, near the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PLA due to the soft segments of TPU facilitating an elastic response. Crystallinity improved in TPU-rich blends, demonstrating that TPU may stimulate the crystallization of PLA. Despite the improvements in flexibility and recovery, issues with phase compatibility and thermal stability were observed. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of PLA/TPU blends as tunable shape memory materials with optimized mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:10229760
DOI:10.1007/s10965-026-04903-9