Mechanical Properties of Porous Polylactic Acid (PLA) Via Salt Leaching Method

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the properties and characterization of porous polylactic acid (PLA). The porous PLA was fabricated via salt leaching method whereas PLA was first dissolved in chloroform under mechanical stirring for 7 minutes. Then, sodium chloride (NaCl) was added into the dissolved PLA. The mixture of PLA and NaCl was then left at room temperature for 24 hours for the chloroform to be evaporated. The solidified films was then been washed under tab water to remove the NaCl content. The removal of NaCl content will lead to porous PLA. The effect of NaCl content on the mechanical and morphological properties of PLA was been studied. The increased of NaCl content shown a reduction trend for tensile properties and elongation at break. Meanwhile, the Young’s modulus had been found to increase with increasing NaCl content. The micrograph of the neat PLA showed a smooth surface at the tensile fractured surface. However, the effect of salt leaching method lead to a porous PLA as the NaCl content increased, the pores observed in the micrographs also increased. The higher the content of NaCl increashe amount of pores on the PLA and the number of interconnected pores with uniform pores morphology and well distributed pores.