Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) blends with various components for melt-blown nonwovens were prepared by a twin-screw extruder. Tributyl citrate (TBC) was added in order to improve the miscibility between PLA and PCL. The results showed that small circular particles of PCL were dispersed in PLA matrix uniformly. The addition of PCL had the heterogeneous nucleation effect on the crystallization of PLA and decreased thermal stability of PLA. The flow of pure PLA and blends approached to Newtonian liquid at a low shear rate and expressed more obvious viscoelasticity at a high shear rate.

Keywords: poly(lactic acid); poly(ε-caprolactone); microstructure; thermal properties.