Antistatic packaging of carbon black on plastizers biodegradable polylactic acid nanocomposites

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable aliphatic polymer obtained from renewable sources; its main application is in the packaging sector. Electronic components require the use of antistatic packaging that prevents damage and electric shock. As PLA has no conductive characteristics, it requires the addition of conductive carbon black to make the polymer less resistive as the dissipative material and making it suitable for the manufacture of antistatic packaging. In this study plasticizer PLA was prepared by solution casting method with plasticizer thymol at (95/5) and carbon black at 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt %. Samples were characterized by FTIR, Tensile Strength, Tear Resistance, Hardness, electrical conductivity, color and brightness, contact angle, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The addition of carbon black in the plasticizer PLA increases the electrical conductivity of PLA and less resistive that suitable for use as antistatic packaging for the transportation and storage of electronic components. Mechanical tests show reduced the tensile strength and tensile modulus but increased in elongation, Tear Resistance but decreased in hardness because used thymol as plasticizers at PLA/thymol (95/5) and films composites change from brittle to ductile. The results of contact angle of pure PLA is 83° that mean hydrophobic materials and decreased to 45° at PLA/thymol/carbon black to obtain hydrophilic materials that able to dissipate or promote the decay of static electricity and improve process ability of electronic device. Optical such as Color and Brightness show that Transparency decreased but suitable for antistatic packaging and became opacity at 10% carbon black. The addition of carbon black in the PLA increases the thermal stability of nanocomposites.