Effect of Silane Functionalization on Properties of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Palygorskite Nanocomposites

Anton Kasprzhitskii,Vadim Gorodov,Alexander Kruglikov,Irina Kuchkina,Georgy Lazorenko

doi:10.3390/inorganics9010003

Anton Kasprzhitskii, Vadim Gorodov + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics9010003

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Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/palygorskite (Paly) nanocomposites were prepared using the melt compounding technique. Paly modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) was used as nanofiller for PLA with concentrations in the 1–7 wt% range. It has been found that the functionalization allows a covalent bond between the hydroxyl groups of the Paly and the PLA matrix, evidenced by the improvement in mechanical properties. Paly modification with VTMS has better properties compared with Pale modification with APTES. This indicates a better adhesion between the Paly-VTMS and PLA matrix, and a good dispersion of the nanofiller in the polymer matrix.

Highlights

Poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer synthesized from renewable resources such as corn, rice, potatoes, or sugarcane [1,2]
FTIR spectrum of Paly demonstrates tetrahedral (Si–O–Si, 950–1250 cm−1) [38,39] and octahedral (Al–Al–OH, 913 cm−1; Al–Fe–OH, 865 cm−1; and Mg–Mg–OH, 647 cm−1 [40]) vibrations with bands connected with hydroxyl groups and water molecules in the range 3200–3400, 3562 cm−1 [41], and 1668 cm−1 [42], respectively
The carbonyl group that appears at 1745 cm−1 for pure PLA shifts slightly towards the higher wavenumber (1746 cm−1) in the PLA/Paly-APTES and PLA/Paly-vinyltrime thoxysilane (VTMS) nanocomposites in the case of 7 wt% content of Paly-APTES (Paly-VTMS), indicating a certain degree of chemical interaction between Paly-APTES (Paly-VTMS) and PLA matrix

Summary

Introduction

Poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer synthesized from renewable resources such as corn, rice, potatoes, or sugarcane [1,2] It is of greater interest because of its manufacturability during heat treatment, high melting point, plasticity [2,3], the possibility of recycling [4,5], biocompatibility, good biodegradation rate [6,7,8], as well as relatively low cost [9]. The addition of reinforcing components into the PLA polymer matrix allows expanding the possibilities of its application [20,21] In this case, the morphology of the filler and its compatibility with the polymer matrix play a key role in improving the physical and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite [22]. It is interesting to study palygorskite ( known as attapulgite) with a fiber morphology (with diameter up to 25 nm and length up to 1000 nm) and a porous structure (the size of nano-channels is 0.64 × 0.37 nm), having

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