Morphological Characteristics, Properties, and Applications of Polylactide/Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Blends and Their Composites—A Review

Abstract

Abstract Over the past years, poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA) is commonly researched as a possible replacement for traditional fossil‐based polymers because of its compostability, biocompatibility, and high mechanical properties. PLA has a variety of applications in packaging, biomedical, and structural. However, PLA has limitations, such as high brittleness, low thermal stability, and a slow crystallization rate, which limits the wide range of applications. To overcome these limitations, the literature reports that blending PLA with other polymers, such as poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), is an economically viable approach. Although blending PLA with PCL is considered a feasible approach, the blend system still suffers from immiscibility, depending on the blend composition. This review aims to highlight recent developments from 2014 to date on the processing of PLA/PCL blends, including their composites, with a primary focus on morphological characteristics and mechanical and thermal properties, including their potential applications in various sectors.

Keywords

• blends
• compatibility
• nanocomposites
• nanofillers
• polycaprolactone
• polylactide