Nanoclay Gel for Poly(lactic Acid)/Clay Nanocomposite

Abstract

Nanoclay gel was prepared using organoclay swollen and dispersed in agar which is the hydrocolloid. Bentonite clay was used for preparation of organoclay with quaternary ammonium salt by cationic exchange method. The organoclays loadings in nanoclay gel were 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt%. Results on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed exfoliation structure and well dispersing developed. Moreover, the application of nanoclay gel as reinforcing filler in polylactic acid (PLA) prepared with melt extrusion process at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 wt%, respectively. The tensile properties and morphologies were observed. The tensile strength and the elongation at break increased with increasing the clay content up to 3 wt% and then slightly decreased at higher clay content. The modulus increased with increasing clay loading. The high degree of dispersion PLA/clay nanocomposites were observed with SEM micrographs.