Abstract
The present study discusses structural aspects of nanocomposites and the ability of layered nanosilicates to alter the flow behaviour of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) melts. In addition, dynamic and static mechanical properties of PLA nanocomposites prepared from melt mixing method have been also discussed. A comparative study of nanocomposite properties has been conducted using two different nanoclays, natural montmorillonite modified with alkyl ammonium surfactant (OMMT), and commercially available organosilicate, Cloisite 30B, as reinforcements within the PLA matrix. Since OMMT has undergone better intercalation within the matrix, the corresponding nanocomposite showed superior mechanical and rheological characteristics than its C30B counterpart.
Highlights
Environmental impact generated by accumulating petroleum based plastic wastes is one of the most pondering topics among the researchers and environmentalists today
The tensile modulus of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) increased to the tune of 5.43, 12.98, and 17.07% with 1, 3, and 5 wt% of nanoclay loading in case of PLA/Cloisite 30B (C30B) nanocomposites than that of V-PLA
Nanocomposites prepared using OMMT nanoclay have showed optimum tensile modulus with 4.08%, 17.09%, and 21.69% increment for 1, 3, and 5 wt% OMMT loading as compared with V-PLA, which is possibly due to good level of OMMT intercalation/exfoliation and effective interaction between clay layers and matrix polymer
Summary
Environmental impact generated by accumulating petroleum based plastic wastes is one of the most pondering topics among the researchers and environmentalists today. In this view, renewable resource based completely biodegradable aliphatic polyesters like poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA), carbohydrate based materials like starch and cellulose are under the scrutiny as apt replacement for petroleum based plastics. Researchers like Ray et al reported about the improvements in processability and performance characteristics of PLA by reinforcing it with layered nanosilicates [1]. Nanocomposites of PHAs, starch, and petroleum based biodegradable materials like poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(caprolactone) (PCL) with improved processability; mechanical and thermal characteristics have been reported by various researchers. Mechanical and thermal properties of PLA show considerable improvement as a function of extent of intercalation/exfoliation of nanoclay layers within the matrix [2,3,4,5]
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