Toughened poly(lactic acid) resin compositions comprising poly(lactic acid) and an impact modifier comprising an ethylene copolymer made from monomers (a) ethylene; (b) one or more olefins of the formula CH.sub.2.dbd.C(R.sup.1)CO.sub.2R.sup.2, where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an alkyl group with 2-8 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is an alkyl group with 1-8 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, or butyl; and (c) one or more olefins of the formula CH.sub.2.dbd.C(R.sup.3)CO.sub.2R.sup.4, where R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1-6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, and R.sup.4 is glycidyl. The ethylene copolymer may further be made from carbon monoxide monomers. The compositions may further comprise one or more ethylene/acrylate and/or ethylene/vinyl ester polymers, ionomers, and cationic grafting agents.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/996,899, filed Nov. 23, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/529,208, filed Dec. 12, 2003. The entire disclosures of both parent applications are herein incorporated by reference.
