Study on molecular interaction behavior, and thermal and mechanical properties of polyacrylic acid and lactose blends

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) blending with lactose or polyol, a lactose derivativ e, is investigated by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning cal orimetry (I)SC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and stress-strain tests. The IR spectra of PAA/lactose blends exist shifting around 1700 cm and 340 0 cm(-1), implying intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction between two compounds. DSC data show that PAA and lactose are miscible below 17% lactos e. At the higher content of lactose, phase separation occurs due to lactose self-association. Comparing to PAA/lactose blends, PAA/polyol systems show much weaker hydrogen-bonding interaction effect. All blending systems stud ied exhibit extensive reduction in their thermal and mechanical properties. The result suggests that both lactose and polyol cannot be used as effecti ve additives to enhance the physical properties of PAA. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.