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PreprintCC BYChemRxiv

The Role of In Situ Crosslinked Polysiloxane/Polylactide Micro-Networks on the PLA Brittle-Ductile Transition

  • Julia Głowacka1
  • Roksana Konieczna1
  • Daria Pakuła1
  • Miłosz Frydrych1
  • Bogna Sztorch1
  • Kosma Szutkowski2
  • Eliza Romańczuk-Ruszuk3
  • Robert E. Przekop1
  1. 1Center for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, Poznań, Poland, 61-614
  2. 2NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Wszechnicy Piastowskiej 3, Poznań, Poland, 61-614
  3. 3Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45C, Bialystok, Poland, 15-351
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Abstract

Polylactide (PLA) has garnered significant attention as a potentially sustainable substitute for conventional petrochemical polymers. This attention is attributed to several factors, including its renewable origin, biodegradability, and its compatibility with conventional polymer processing techniques. However, its inherent fragility restricts its broader utilization as an engineering plastic. In this study, the investigation focused on the thermally activated reactive modification of PLA with two functional polysiloxanes of varying molecular architectures. This modification was explored as a toughening strategy, with the objective of promoting the brittle-to-ductile (BD) transition through the formation of a locally entangled polysiloxane/PLA micro-network within the PLA matrix. Extraction, thermal, spectroscopic, and morphological analyses were conducted to confirm the formation of a crosslinked phase. The micromechanical deformation mechanisms of pristine and toughened PLA under tension, bending, and impact forces are discussed, revealing that the dispersion level, size of dispersed phase, molecular weight, and reactivity of the introduced soft phase strongly influence rheological and mechanical performance, leading to markedly improved mechanical performance. For instance, impact strength reaches ∼37 kJ/m2 at 1 wt% MOD1 and elongation at break increases to 90% at 5 wt% MOD2.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{glowacka2026role,
  title = {{The Role of In Situ Crosslinked Polysiloxane/Polylactide Micro-Networks on the PLA Brittle-Ductile Transition}},
  author = {Julia Głowacka and Roksana Konieczna and Daria Pakuła and Miłosz Frydrych and Bogna Sztorch and Kosma Szutkowski and Eliza Romańczuk-Ruszuk and Robert E. Przekop},
  howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15004728/v2},
  url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15004728/v2},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - The Role of In Situ Crosslinked Polysiloxane/Polylactide Micro-Networks on the PLA Brittle-Ductile Transition
AU  - Julia Głowacka
AU  - Roksana Konieczna
AU  - Daria Pakuła
AU  - Miłosz Frydrych
AU  - Bogna Sztorch
AU  - Kosma Szutkowski
AU  - Eliza Romańczuk-Ruszuk
AU  - Robert E. Przekop
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/09
PB  - ChemRxiv
DO  - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15004728/v2
UR  - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15004728/v2
AB  - Polylactide (PLA) has garnered significant attention as a potentially sustainable substitute for conventional petrochemical polymers. This attention is attributed to several factors, including its renewable origin, biodegradability, and its compatibility with conventional polymer processing techniques. However, its inherent fragility restricts its broader utilization as an engineering plastic. In this study, the investigation focused on the thermally activated reactive modification of PLA with two functional polysiloxanes of varying molecular architectures. This modification was explored as a toughening strategy, with the objective of promoting the brittle-to-ductile (BD) transition through the formation of a locally entangled polysiloxane/PLA micro-network within the PLA matrix. Extraction, thermal, spectroscopic, and morphological analyses were conducted to confirm the formation of a crosslinked phase. The micromechanical deformation mechanisms of pristine and toughened PLA under tension, bending, and impact forces are discussed, revealing that the dispersion level, size of dispersed phase, molecular weight, and reactivity of the introduced soft phase strongly influence rheological and mechanical performance, leading to markedly improved mechanical performance. For instance, impact strength reaches ∼37 kJ/m2 at 1 wt% MOD1 and elongation at break increases to 90% at 5 wt% MOD2.
ER  -