Mechanical and thermal properties of melt processed PLA/organoclay nanocomposites

• Main Authors: Ibrahim, N. (Author), Jollands, M. (Author), Parthasarathy, R. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Physics Publishing 2017
• Subjects: Degradation temperatures; Differential scanning calorimetry; Elastic moduli; Glass transition; Materials properties; Mechanical and thermal properties; Melt intercalation; Melting point temperature; Metallurgical engineering; Metallurgy; Modulated differential scanning calorimetry; Nanocomposites; Organically-modified layered silicates; Organoclay; Silicates; Strength and elongations; Tensile strength; Thermal behaviours; Thermodynamic properties; Thermogravimetric analysis
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher; View in Scopus

 Polylactic acid (PLA) and organically modified layered silicates (organoclay) with concentrations of 2-10 wt% were prepared by melt intercalation technique. The effects of organoclay on the mechanical and thermal properties of PLA were studied. Tensile properties were evaluated using an Instron Universal Tester. Modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) and Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) were performed to study the thermal behaviour of the prepared composites. The nanocomposites exhibited superior improvement of practical materials properties such as Young's modulus and thermal stability, as compared to the neat PLA. The Young's modulus drastically increased, whereas tensile strength and elongation at break decreased. The maximum degradation temperature of the hybrid increased linearly with an increasing amount of organoclay. However, MDSC has determined that the glass transition, cold crystallisation, and melting point temperatures were not significantly influenced by the presence of organoclay. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.