With aim to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) melt-blown nonwovens (MBs), polyamide 11 (PA11) was melt blended with PLA at the weight proportions of PLA/PA11 (95/5, 90/10, 85/15, 80/20), and the corresponding PLA/PA11 MBs were also manufactured. The crystallization, thermal and rheological behaviors of PLA/PA11 blends were investigated. PLA/PA11 MBs were also characterized by morphology and mechanical properties. The results indicated that PA11, as globular dispersed phases, formed confined crystals and could improve the thermal stability of PLA matrix. The viscosity of PLA/PA11 blends was slightly increased but the rheological behaviors of “shear-thinning” kept unchanged in comparison with PLA. The average diameter of PLA/PA11 MB fibers was slightly increased, whereas the toughness of PLA/PA11 MBs including the strength and elongation were efficiently enhanced compared with those of PLA MBs.

Optimization of the mechanical and thermal properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) homopolymer blended with relatively new low molecular low modulus polypropylene (LMPP) at different blend ratios was carried out via surface response methodology (RSM). Regression equations for the prediction of optimal conditions were achieved considering eight individual parameters: naming, elongation at break, tensile strength and elastic modulus, crystallization temperature (T_C), first melting temperatures (T_M1), heat fusion (Hf), crystallinity, and melt flow rate (MFR), which were measured as responses for the design of experiment (DOE). The adjusted and predicted correlation coefficient (R²) shows good agreement between the actual and the predicted values. To confirm the optimal values from the response model, supplementary experiments as a performance evaluation were conducted, posing better operational conditions. It has been confirmed that the RSM model was adequate to reflect the predicted optimization. The results suggest that the addition of LMPP into iPP could effectively enhance the functionality and processability of blend fibres if correctly proportioned.

A novel aluminum phosphate (ALP) microcapsule was synthesized with the aim of enhancing the flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties of flexible polyurethane (PU) foams.