Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of montmorillonite (MMT) type nanoclay content and maleic anhydride (MA) grafted polylactide (PLA) copolymer compatibilization on the mechanical properties of PLA nanocomposites; compounded by twin-screw extrusion melt-mixing followed with injection molding for shaping of bulk specimens. Successively intercalated and exfoliated structures of the nanocomposites were observed by XRD and TEM analysis, including the chemical interactions by FTIR. Mechanical tests indicated that use of only 1 wt% MMT resulted in significant improvements in many mechanical properties of PLA. Increases were only 14 % in flexural modulus and 7 % in flexural strength, but more than 6 times in ductility and as much as 85 % in fracture toughness values. After MA compatibilization these improvements were much enormous, being more than 22 times in ductility and 119 % in fracture toughness.
References
Bourbigot, S., Fontaine, G., Bellayer, S. and Delobel, R., “Processing and Nanodispersion: A Quantitative Approach for Polylactide Nanocomposite”, Polym. Test., 27, 2–10, (2008) 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2007.07.008Search in Google Scholar
Chang, I. H., An, Y. U. and Sur, G. S., “Poly(lactic acid) Nanocomposites with Various Organoclays. I. Thermomechanical Properties, Morphology, and Gas Permeability”, J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys., 41, 94–103, (2003) 10.1002/polb.10349Search in Google Scholar
Cumkur, E. A., Baouz, T. and Yilmazer, U., “Poly(lactic acid)-Layered Silicate Nanocomposites: The Effects of Modifier and Compatibilizer on the Morphology and Mechanical Properties”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., (2015) 10.1002/app.42553Search in Google Scholar
Fischer, E. W., Sterzel, H. J. and Wegner, G., “Investigation of Structure of Solution Grown Crystals of Lactide Copolymers by Means of Chemical Reactions”, Colloid Polym. Sci., 251, 980–990, (1973) 10.1007/BF01498927Search in Google Scholar
Fukushima, K., Tabuani, D. and Camino, G., “Nanocomposites of PLA and PCL Based on Montmorillonite and Sepiolite”, Mater. Sci. Eng., C, 29, 1433–1441 (2009) 10.1016/j.msec.2008.11.005Search in Google Scholar
Gupta, A. P., Kumar, V., “New Emerging Trends in Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers-Polylactide: A. Critique”, Eur. Polym. J., 43, 4053–4074 (2007) 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2007.06.045Search in Google Scholar
Hwang, S. W., Lee, S. B., Lee, C. K., Lee, J. Y., Shim, J. K., Selke, S. E. M., Soto-Valdez, H., Matuana, L., Rubino, M. and Auras, R., “Grafting of Maleic Anhydride on Poly(L-lactic acid). Effects of Physical and Mechanical Properties”, Polym. Test., 31, 333–344, (2012) 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2011.12.005Search in Google Scholar
Isitman, N. A., Dogan, M., Bayramli, E. and Kaynak, C., “The Role of Nanoparticle Geometry in Flame Retardancy of Polylactide Nanocomposites Containing Aluminium Phosphinate”, Polym. Degrad. Stab., 97, 1285–1296 (2012) 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2012.05.028Search in Google Scholar
Jain, S., Misra, M., Mohanty, A. K. and Ghosh, A. K., “Thermal, Mechanical and Rheological Behavior of Poly(lactic acid)/Talc Composites”, J. Polym. Environ., 20, 1027–1037 (2012) 10.1007/s10924-012-0500-zSearch in Google Scholar
Jiang, L., Liu, B. and Zhang, J., “Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Poly-(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Nanoparticle Ternary Composites”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 48, 7594–7602 (2009), CCC: $40.75 10.1021/ie900576fSearch in Google Scholar
Jiang, L., Zhang, J. and Wolcott, M. P., “Comparison of Polylactide/Nano-Sized Calcium Carbonate and Polylactide/Montmorillonite Composites: Reinforcing Effects and Toughening Mechanisms”, Polymer, 48, 7632–7644 (2007) 10.1016/j.polymer.2007.11.001Search in Google Scholar
Kaynak, C., Meyva, Y., “Use of Maleic Anhydride Compatibilization to Improve Toughness and Other Properties of Polylactide Blended with Thermoplastic Elastomers”, Polym. Adv. Technol., 25, 1622–1632 (2014) 10.1002/pat.3415Search in Google Scholar
Lee, S. Y., Hanna, M. A., “Preparation and Characterization of Tapioca Starch-Poly(lactic acid)-Cloisite NA+ Nanocomposite Foams”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 110, 2337–2344 (2008) 10.1002/app.27730Search in Google Scholar
Lee, S. Y., Hanna, M. A., “Tapioca Starch-Poly(lactic acid)-Cloisite 30B Nanocomposite Foams”, Polym. Compos., 30665–672 (2009) 10.1002/pc.20664Search in Google Scholar
Lee, S. Y., Kang, I., Doh, G., Yoon, H., Park, B. and Wu, Q., “Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Wood Flour/Talc-Filled Polylactic Acid Composites: Effect of Filler Content and Coupling Treatment”, J. Thermoplast. Compos. Mater., 21, 209–223, (2008) 10.1177/0892705708089473Search in Google Scholar
Leu, Y. Y., Ishak, Z. A. M. and Chow, W. S., “Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Injection Molded Poly(lactic acid)/SEBS-g-MAH/Organo-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 124, 1200–1207 (2012) 10.1002/app.35084Search in Google Scholar
Mehrabzadeh, M., Kamal, M. R. and Quintanar, G., “Maleic Anhydride Grafting onto HDPE by in situ Reactive Extrusion and its Effect on Intercalation and Mechanical Properties of HDPE/Clay Nanocomposites”, Iran. Polym. J., 18, 833–842 (2009)Search in Google Scholar
Mohapatra, A. K., Mohanty, S., “Study of Thermo-Mechanical and Morphological Behaviour of Biodegradable PLA/PBAT/Layered Silicate Blend Nanocomposites”, J. Polym. Environ., 22, 398–408 (2014) 10.1007/s10924-014-0639-xSearch in Google Scholar
Molinaro, S., Romero, M. C., Boaro, M., Sensidoni, A., Lagazio, C., Morris, M. and Kerry, J., “Effect of Nanoclay-Type and PLA Optical Purity on the Characteristics of PLA-Based Nanocomposite Films”, J. Food Eng., 117, 113–123 (2013) 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2013.01.021Search in Google Scholar
Najafi, N. C., Heuzey, M. C. and Carreau, P. J., “Polylactide (PLA)-Clay Nanocomposites Prepared by Melt Compounding in the Presence of a Chain Extender”, Compos. Sci. Technol., 72, 608–615, (2012) 10.1016/j.compscitech.2012.01.005Search in Google Scholar
NampoothiriM.K., Nair, R. N. and John, R. P., “An Overview of the Recent Developments in Polylactide (PLA) Research”, Biores. Tech., 101, 8493–8501 (2010) 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.05.092Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Paul, M. A., Alexandre, M., Degee, P., Henrist, C., Rulmont, A. and Dubois, P., “New Nanocomposite Materials Based on Plasticized Poly(l-lactide) and Organo-Modified Montmorillonites: Thermal and Morphological Study”, Polymer, 44, 443–450 (2003) 10.1016/S0032-3861(02)00778-4Search in Google Scholar
Petchwattana, N., Covavisaruch, S. and Petthai, S., “Influence of Talc Particle Size and Content on Crystallization Behavior, Mechanical Properties and Morphology of Poly(lactic acid)”, Polym. Bull., 71, 1947–1959 (2014) 10.1007/s00289-014-1165-7Search in Google Scholar
Pluta, M., “Morphology and Properties of Polylactide Modified by Thermal Treatment, Filling with Layered Silicates and Plasticization”, Polymer, 45, 8239–8251 (2004) 10.1016/j.polymer.2004.09.057Search in Google Scholar
Pluta, M., Jeszka, J. K. and Boiteux, G., “Polylactide/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites: Structure, Dielectric, Viscoelastic and Thermal Properties”, Eur. Polym. J., 43, 2819–2835 (2007) 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2007.04.009Search in Google Scholar
Ray, S. S., Bousmina, M., “Biodegradable Polymers and their Layered Silicate Nanocomposites: In Greening the 21st Century Materials World”, Prog. Mat. Sci., 50, 962–1079 (2005) 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2005.05.002Search in Google Scholar
Ray, S. S., Yamada, K., Okamoto, M. and Ueda, K., “Biodegradable Polylactide/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites”, J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol., 3, 503–510 (2003) 10.1166/jnn.2003.220Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Rhim, J., Hong, S. and Ha, C., “Tensile, Water Vapor Barrier and Antimicrobial Properties of PLA/Nanoclay Composite Films”, LWT Food Sci. Technol., 42, 612–617 (2009) 10.1016/j.lwt.2008.02.015Search in Google Scholar
Sabet, S. S., Katbab, A. A., “Interfacially Compatibilized Poly(lactic acid) and Poly(lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone/Organoclay Nanocomposites with Improved Biodegradability and Barrier Properties: Effects of the Compatibilizer Structural Parameters and Feeding Route”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 111, 1954–1963 (2009) 10.1002/app.29210Search in Google Scholar
Zou, G. X., Zhang, X., Zhao, C. X. and Li, J., “The Crystalline and Mechanical Properties of PLA/Layered Silicate Degradable Composites”, Polym. Sci. Ser. A, 54, 393–400 (2012) 10.1134/S0965545X12050148Search in Google Scholar
© 2016, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich
