Tailoring Oligomeric Plasticizers for Polylactide through Structural Control

[Image: see text] Structural variations (oligolactide segments, functionalized end groups, and different plasticizer cores) were utilized to tailor the performances of biobased plasticizers for polylactide (PLA). Six plasticizers were developed starting from 1,4-butanediol and isosorbide as cores: two monomeric (1,4-butanediol levulinate and isosorbide levulinate) and four oligomeric plasticizers with hydroxyl or levulinate ester end groups (1,4-butanediol-based oligolactide, isosorbide-based oligolactide, 1,4-butanediol-based oligomeric levulinate, and isosorbide-based oligomeric levulinate). Structural variations in plasticizer design were reflected in the thermal stability, plasticizing efficiency, and migration resistance. The monomeric plasticizer 1,4-butanediol levulinate decreased the glass-transition temperature of PLA from 59 to 16 °C and increased the strain at break substantially from 6 to 227% with 20 wt % addition. 1,4-Butanediol-based oligomeric levulinate exhibited better thermal stability and migration resistance, though the plasticizing efficiency was slightly lower (glass-transition temperature = 28 °C; strain at break = 202%). Compared to PLA films plasticized by plasticizers with flexible butanediol cores, those plasticized by plasticizers with rigid isosorbide cores exhibited higher Young’s modulus and thermal stability and lower plasticizing efficiency. Furthermore, plasticizers with levulinate ester end groups had improved thermal stability, plasticizing efficiency, and migration resistance compared to the corresponding plasticizers with hydroxyl end groups. Hence, a set of controlled structural variations in plasticizer design were successfully demonstrated as a potent route to tailor the plasticizer performances.