[2PS-235]
Mechanical Enhancement of PLA-Based Sustainable Films Using Alpha-Lipoic Acid
발표자김민정 (국립금오공과대학교)
연구책임자최청룡 (국립금오공과대학교)
Abstract
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer derived from renewable resources, but its inherent brittleness limits broader applications. Herein, we report a simple toughening strategy for PLA via melt-compounding–induced in situ polymerization of α-lipoic acid (LpOH). During extrusion, LpOH polymerizes to form flexible poly(lipoic acid) (PLpOH), producing a PLA/PLpOH blend that significantly improves ductility. As a result, the toughness increased up to sixfold compared with pristine PLA. Furthermore, trace Fe³⁺ ions induce dynamic metal–carboxylate coordination within the PLpOH phase, generating reversible crosslinks that enhance energy dissipation. With only 0.1 wt% Fe³⁺, the toughness further increased up to twentyfold, reaching mechanical performance comparable to polyethylene.