Abstract
AbstractPolylactide (PLA) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) were melt blended using a twin‐screw extruder. The morphology of PLA/CaCO3 composites was observed by scanning electronic microscopy. The linear and nonlinear shear rheological behaviors of PLA/CaCO3 melts were investigated by an advanced rheology expended system. The results show that the CaCO3 particles are evenly dispersed in the PLA matrix. The incorporation of low CaCO3 content (<20%) causes the reduction of the storage moduli, loss moduli, and dynamic viscosities whereas high CaCO3 content (>30%) leads to the increase of the storage moduli, loss moduli, and dynamic viscosities. The composites with high CaCO3 content show pseudo‐solid‐like behaviors at low frequency. High CaCO3 content also results in a significant increase of flow activation energy and a dramatic decrease of flow index n, which is in consistent with the more serious shear‐thinning tendency of high‐filled PLA composites melts. The particular rheological responses might be attributed to the formation and destruction of the percolating network. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
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