Effect of Epoxidized Natural Rubber on the Crystallization, Thermal Stability, and Rheological Behavior of Polylactide Stereocomplexes

ABSTRACT The blending of poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) and poly(D‐lactide) (PDLA) forms polylactide stereocomplex (SC‐PLA), enhancing the thermal resistance, crystallization rate, and mechanical strength of PLA‐based materials. This study investigates the incorporation of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) into PLLA/PDLA blends to enhance stereocomplex crystallization, thermal stability, and rheological properties, aiming to develop advanced biodegradable materials. The addition of 10% ENR increased stereocomplex crystallinity to 44.3%, compared to 29.4% for the blends without ENR, as confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Rheological analysis revealed enhanced viscoelastic properties, with increased storage modulus (G′) and complex viscosity (|η*|), demonstrating the reinforcing effect of ENR. These findings highlight the potential of ENR in suppressing homocrystal formation while promoting stereocomplex crystallization, offering valuable insights for the development of PLA‐based materials with improved thermal and mechanical properties for engineering and biomedical applications.