Thermal Stability of PCL/PLA Blends Produced by Physical Blending Process

The poly ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) and poly lactid acid (PLA) were used for prepared blends with different percentage. PCL/PLA blends (70/30 wt% and 50/50 wt%) were prepared by physical blending process, called solvent casting. These blends were analysed by morphological, thermal and rheological tests in order to evaluate the miscibility and thermal stability of the polymers and their blends, important characteristics to apply in scaffold fabrication. The Simultaneous Thermal Analyser (STA) demonstrated two separated melting peaks in the blends, which show the immiscible polymers. The blends surface were analysed through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the results shows the presence of droplets in the blends surface, characteristic of an immiscible polymer. The results of rheological measurements present a good thermal stability of the polymers and their blends.