Block Copolymers of “PE-Like” Poly(pentadecalactone) and Poly(l-lactide): Synthesis, Properties, and Compatibilization of Polyethylene/Poly(l-lactide) Blends

Block copolymers consisting of a polyethylene block and a polar polymer block are interesting structures for the compatibilization of polyethylene/polar polymer blends or polyethylene-based composites. Since the synthesis of polyethylene-based block copolymers is an elaborate process, diblock copolymers consisting of "polyethylene-like" poly-(pentadecalactone) (PPDL) and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) were synthesized using a one-pot, sequential-feed ring-opening polymerization of pentadecalactone (PDL) and L-lactide (LLA). The peculiar activity of the used aluminum salen catalysts yielded a block copolymer consisting of two blocks with both a high dispersity, as a result of intra block transesterification. Interestingly, interblock transesterification was effectively suppressed. The obtained poly(PDL-block-LLA) of various block lengths showed coincidental crystallization of the two blocks with an associated microphase-separated morphology, in which PLLA. spheres with a high dispersity are distributed within the PPDL matrix. The complex morphologies is believed to arise from the presence of a whole range of block sizes as a consequence of the large dispersity of both blocks. The application of these block copolymers as compatibilizers for high density polyethylene (HDPE)/PLLA blends led to a clear change in blend morphology and a steep decrease in particle size of the dispersed phase. Furthermore, addition of the block copolymers to blends of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and PLLA led to a significant increase in adhesion between the two phases. For both HDPE/PLLA and LLDPE/PLLA blends, the compatibilization efficiency of the poly(PDL-block-LLA) increased when the length of the PPDL block was increased. The presented results clearly show that PPDL can function as a substituent for various types of polyethylene, which opens up a new method for compatibilizing polyethylene with polar polymers using easy attainable "PE-like" block copolymers.