Bionanocomposite Obtained from Poly (lactic acid)/Biopolyethylene Blend and Clay

Abstract

SummaryThe aim of this work is the development of a bionanocomposite from Poly (lactic acid)‐PLA/Biopolyethylene (PE) blend and clay. The montmorillonite (MMT) clay was organically modified with an ionic surfactant to become organophilic (OMMT). The MMT and OMMT clays were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. The blends and the biocomposites were prepared by extrusion followed by injection molding and characterized by XRD, mechanical properties and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). XRD and FTIR results indicated that the MMT clay was sucessfully modified becoming OMMT. XRD results also indicated that for the PLA/PE/EMA‐GMA biocomposite a bionanocomposite with an intercalated structure was obtained. SEM results showed that the addition of the OMMT clay to both PLA/PE and PLA/PE/EMA‐GMA blends led to a substantial decrease in the PE dispersed phase domains size. This decrease was more pronounced in the PLA/EMA‐GMA/OMMT bionanocomposite.