Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Epoxidized Soybean Oil Blends by the Addition of 3-Aminophenylboronic Acid

[Image: see text] Here, the high-strength, high-ductility blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) were successfully prepared via a melt-bending method. The effects of APBA addition on the mechanical and thermal properties, morphologies, and crystallization behavior of the blends were investigated. The results showed that the addition of APBA endowed the PLA/ESO/APBA blends with a good balance of strength and toughness. The yield strength of the PLA/ESO/APBA (90:10:3) blend was 70 MPa, which was 25% higher than that of the corresponding PLA/ESO blend without APBA (56 MPa), while its elongation at break reached 160%, which is greatly superior to that of pure PLA (6.5%). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the incorporation of APBA significantly improved the compatibility between PLA and ESO, while gel permeation chromatography and rheological analysis suggested the occurrence of complex reactions between the three constituents, which improved the compatibility between PLA and ESO and enhanced the mechanical properties of the blends. Hence, the PLA/ESO/APBA blends possess great potential for application in the manufacture of environmentally friendly degradable plastics.