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The visualization of phase separation in immiscible polymer blends holds significant industrial and academic relevance, as the resultant phase architecture governs the macroscopic properties and ultimate performance of blended materials. To address this challenge, a dual‐fluorophore labeling strategy is introduced, enabling high‐contrast differentiation of polymeric phases. By covalently tethering two spectrally orthogonal fluorophores to their respective polymer components, unambiguous spatial resolution of blend morphologies is achieved through laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). When compatibilizers are incorporated, LSCM imaging reveals fundamentally reconfigured phase architectures compared to uncompatibilized systems. This fluorescence‐based approach permits direct assessment of blend compatibility through quantitative evaluation of interfacial domain coherence and phase dispersion homogeneity. The methodology demonstrates exceptional versatility, successfully resolving phase boundaries in both chemically dissimilar systems (e.g., polylactic acid [PLA]/poly (butylene adipate‐ co ‐terephthalate) [PBAT] blends with pronounced polarity disparities) and structurally congruent polymers (e.g., polyethylene [PE]/polypropylene [PP] variants). The universal applicability stems from the substantial spectral distinction between fluorophore‐labeled polymers, independent of variations in polymer polarity or structural configurations.

As a potential replacement for petroleum-based plastics, biodegradable bio-based polymers such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) have received much attention in recent years. PLA is a biodegradable polymer with major applications in packaging and medicine. Unfortunately, PLA is less flexible and has less impact resistance than petroleum-based plastics. To improve the mechanical properties of PLA, PLA-based blends are very often used, but the outcome does not meet expectations because of the non-compatibility of the polymer blends. From a chemical point of view, the use of graft copolymers as a compatibilizer with a PLA backbone bearing side chains is an interesting option for improving the compatibility of these blends, which remains challenging. This review article reports on the various graft copolymers based on a PLA backbone and their syntheses following two chemical strategies: the synthesis and polymerization of modified lactide or direct chemical post-polymerization modification of PLA. The main applications of these PLA graft copolymers in the environmental and biomedical fields are presented.

In this work, the effectiveness of seven commercial compatibilizers is tested in polylactide (PLA)/poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) blends with different compositions to obtain a high‐impact PLA. None of the compatibilizers is effective for 90/10 and 80/20 PLA/PCL compositions, as no improvement of the impact strength is observed. For the 70/30 composition, compatibilizers having glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and acrylate groups in their structure are proved the most effective, as the morphological change towards co‐continuity induced by them leads to significant impact strength improvements (of ≈345% and 90% with respect to the neat PLA and the noncompatibilized PLA/PCL 70/30 blend, respectively). The 70/30 PLA/PCL composition, as it shows the best balance of properties, and the best compatibilizer (ElvaloyPTW) are chosen to carry out the optimization of the compatibilizer content. It is found that adding 6 phr to the blend results in highly toughened and ductile blends while maintaining a high modulus and yield strength values. Larger compatibilizer contents lead to even higher impact strength values, but the low‐strain mechanical properties are notably reduced. Thus, in this work, a simple and easily scalable method to produce high‐impact PLA is shown, as it implies the compounding of three commercially available components without involving any toxic solvents. Highly toughened polylactide (PLA) is achieved by compatibilizing PLA/poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) blends. Seven different commercial compatibilizers are employed. The PLA/PCL ratio, compatibilizer type, and compatibilizer content are optimized. Compatibilizers having glycidyl methacrylate and acrylate groups are the most effective. A simple, solvent‐free, and easily scalable process is proposed.

PLA/PBAT (Poly (lactic acid)/Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)) blend is a biodegradable material commonly considered a potential alternative to polymeric products from petroleum sources. PLA is intrinsically brittle, endowed with a low elongation at break and poor impact strength that restricts its use for some applications while PBAT has high ductility, heat resistance, and impact resistance. However, PLA associated with PBAT results in an incompatible blend, due to poor interfacial adhesion. The compatibilization of PLA/PBAT can be improved through physical and chemical interaction between the components, and with exposure to ionizing radiation. Cellulose is the most abundant biodegradable polymer available and is considered the potential material to be used as reinforcement in sustainable composite materials, as well as nanocellulose while an alternative to synthetic nanoparticles. This review describes the state of the art of polymer blends of PBAT and PLA, in terms of manufacturability, compatibilization, biodegradation, radiation processing, and cellulose nanocrystal reinforcement.

In the perspective of producing a rigid renewable and environmentally friendly rigid packaging material, two comb-like copolymers of cellulose acetate (AC) and oligo(lactic acid) OLA, feeding different percentages of oligo(lactic acid) segments, were prepared by chemical synthesis in solvent or reactive extrusion in the melt, using a diepoxide as the coupling agent and were used as compatibilizers for poly(lactic acid)/plasticized cellulose acetate PLA/pAC blends. The blends were extruded at 230 °C or 197 °C and a similar compatibilizing behavior was observed for the different compatibilizers. The compatibilizer C1 containing 80 wt% of AC and 14 wt% of OLA resulted effective in compatibilization and it was easily obtained by reactive extrusion. Considering these results, different PLAX/pAC(100-X) compounds containing C1 as the compatibilizer were prepared by extrusion at 197 °C and tested in terms of their tensile and impact properties. Reference materials were the uncompatibilized corresponding blend (PLAX/pAC(100-X)) and the blend of PLA, at the same wt%, with C1. Significant increase in Young’s modulus and tensile strength were observed in the compatibilized blends, in dependence of their morphologic features, suggesting the achievement of an improved interfacial adhesion thanks to the occurred compatibilization.

Efficient recycling of mixed plastic waste remains challenging due to the intrinsic immiscibility of constituent polymers, which compromises mechanical performance. Here, a synergistic compatibilization strategy combining reactive maleic anhydride–grafted low‐density polyethylene (LDPE‐g‐MA) and non‐reactive styrene–ethylene–butadiene–styrene (SEBS) is demonstrated to enhance interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties of LDPE/PS/PA6 blends. The cooperative action of LDPE‐g‐MA and SEBS minimized mutual interference and improved compatibilization efficiency at both LDPE/PA6 and LDPE/PS interfaces. In the LDPE/PS/PA6 (40/30/30) blend, the bicontinuous LDPE/PS morphology with PA6 encapsulated in PS transformed into an LDPE matrix containing salami‐like core–shell domains with mixed PS/PA6 cores upon addition of 5 wt.% LDPE‐g‐MA and 5 wt.% SEBS. In the LDPE/PS/PA6 (70/15/15) blend, the PA6@PS domains evolved into distinct, refined salami‐like structures with inner PS cores and interfacial localized PA6 domains upon addition of 3 wt.% LDPE‐g‐MA and 3 wt.% SEBS, increasing notched impact strength from 3.3 to 18.2 kJ·m−2. In the LDPE/PS/PA6 (15/15/70) blend, LDPE@PS core–shell domains converted to salami‐like PS@LDPE structures with 3 wt.% LDPE‐g‐MA and 4.5 wt.% SEBS, enhancing impact strength from 2.9 to 11.7 kJ·m−2. This work offers an effective, industrially relevant route to tailor morphology and upgrade the performance of heterogeneous plastic waste toward sustainable recycling. Synergistic compatibilization of immiscible LDPE/PS/PA6 blends is achieved using non‐reactive SEBS and reactive LDPE‐g‐MA. SEBS and LDPE‐g‐MA selectively act at the LDPE/PS and LDPE/PA6 interfaces, respectively, transforming coarse morphologies into finely dispersed structures and markedly enhancing mechanical toughness. The synergistic effect strongly depends on blend composition and phase morphology.

Despite the advantages of polylactide (PLA), its inadequate UV-shielding and gas-barrier properties undermine its wide application as a flexible packaging film for perishable items. These issues are addressed in this work by investigating the properties of melt-mixed, fully bioderived blends of polylactide (PLA) and poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), as a function of the PEF weight fraction (1–30 wt %) and the amount of the commercial compatibilizer/chain extender Joncryl ADR 4468 (J, 0.25–1 phr). J mitigates the immiscibility of the two polymer phases by decreasing and homogenizing the PEF domain size; for the blend containing 10 wt % of PEF, the PEF domain size drops from 0.67 ± 0.46 µm of the uncompatibilized blend to 0.26 ± 0.14 with 1 phr of J. Moreover, the increase in the complex viscosity of PLA and PLA/PEF blends with the J content evidences the effectiveness of J as a chain extender. This dual positive contribution of J is reflected in the mechanical properties of PLA/PEF blends. Whereas the uncompatibilized blend with 10 wt % of PEF shows lower mechanical performance than neat PLA, all the compatibilized blends show higher tensile strength and strain at break, while retaining their high elastic moduli. The effects of PEF on the UV- and oxygen-barrier properties of PLA are also remarkable. Adding only 1 wt % of PEF makes the blend an excellent barrier for UV rays, with the transmittance at 320 nm dropping from 52.8% of neat PLA to 0.4% of the sample with 1 wt % PEF, while keeping good transparency in the visible region. PEF is also responsible for a sensible decrease in the oxygen transmission rate, which decreases from 189 cc/m2·day for neat PLA to 144 cc/m2·day with only 1 wt % of PEF. This work emphasizes the synergistic effects of PEF and J in enhancing the thermal, mechanical, UV-shielding, and gas-barrier properties of PLA, which results in bioderived blends that are very promising for packaging applications.

Poly(L-Lactide) (PLA), a fully biobased aliphatic polyester, has attracted significant attention in the last decade due to its exceptional set of properties, such as high tensile modulus/strength, biocompatibility, (bio)degradability in various media, easy recyclability and good melt-state processability by the conventional processes of the plastic/textile industry. Blending PLA with other polymers represents one of the most cost-effective and efficient approaches to develop a next-generation of PLA-based materials with superior properties. In particular, intensive research has been carried out on PLA-based blends with engineering polymers such as polycarbonate (PC), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and various polyamides (PA). This overview, consequently, aims to gather recent works over the last 10 years on these immiscible PLA-based blends processed by melt extrusion, such as twin screw compounding. Furthermore, for a better scientific understanding of various ultimate properties, processing by internal mixers has also been ventured. A specific emphasis on blend morphologies, compatibilization strategies and final (thermo)mechanical properties (tensile/impact strength, ductility and heat deflection temperature) for potential durable and high-performance applications, such as electronic parts (3C parts, electronic cases) to replace PC/ABS blends, has been made.

Biodegradable poly(lactide)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) blends were prepared by reactive blending in the presence of chain-extenders. Two chain-extenders with multi-epoxy groups were studied. The effect of chain-extenders on the morphology, mechanical properties, thermal behavior, and hydrolytic degradation of the blends was investigated. The compatibility between the PLA and PBAT was significantly improved by in situ formation of PLA-co-PBAT copolymers in the presence of the chain-extenders, results in an enhanced ductility of the blends, e.g., the elongation at break was increased to 500% without any decrease in the tensile strength. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results reveal that cold crystallization of PLA was enhanced due to heterogeneous nucleation effect of the in situ compatibilized PBAT domains. As known before, PLA is sensitive to hydrolysis and in the presence of PBAT and the chain-extenders, the hydrolytic degradation of the blend was evident. A three-stage hydrolysis mechanism for the system is proposed based on a study of weight loss and molecular weight reduction of the samples and the pH variation of the degradation medium.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most widely produced biobased, biodegradable and biocompatible polyester. Despite many of its properties are similar to those of common petroleum-based polymers, some drawbacks limit its utilization, especially high brittleness and low toughness. To overcome these problems and improve the ductility and the impact resistance, PLA is often blended with other biobased and biodegradable polymers. For this purpose, poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) are very advantageous copolymers, because their toughness and elongation at break are complementary to those of PLA. Similar to PLA, both these copolymers are biodegradable and can be produced from annual renewable resources. This literature review aims to collect results on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of PLA/PBAT and PLA/PBSA blends, as binary blends with and without addition of coupling agents. The effect of different compatibilizers on the PLA/PBAT and PLA/PBSA blends properties is here elucidated, to highlight how the PLA toughness and ductility can be improved and tuned by using appropriate additives. In addition, the incorporation of solid nanoparticles to the PLA/PBAT and PLA/PBSA blends is discussed in detail, to demonstrate how the nanofillers can act as morphology stabilizers, and so improve the properties of these PLA-based formulations, especially mechanical performance, thermal stability and gas/vapor barrier properties. Key points about the biodegradation of the blends and the nanocomposites are presented, together with current applications of these novel green materials.