Effect of sepiolite on the crystallization behavior of biodegradable poly(lactic acid) as an efficient nucleating agent

To enhance the crystallization kinetics of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), fibrous sepiolite was explored for nucleating the crystallization of PLA. PLA/sepiolite nanocomposites were prepared via the melt‐extrusion method. The effect of sepiolite on the crystallization behavior, spherulite growth and cryst...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer engineering and science 2015-05, Vol.55 (5), p.1104-1112
Main Authors: Wu, Jun, Zou, Xiaoxuan, Jing, Bo, Dai, Wenli
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetal resins
Biodegradable materials
Biodegradation
Chemical properties
Crystal structure
Crystallization
Differential scanning calorimetry
Effects
Fourier transforms
Identification and classification
Kinetics
Lactic acid
Lamellar structure
Meerschaum
Minerals
Nucleation
Plastics
Sepiolite
Spherulites
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Summary:To enhance the crystallization kinetics of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), fibrous sepiolite was explored for nucleating the crystallization of PLA. PLA/sepiolite nanocomposites were prepared via the melt‐extrusion method. The effect of sepiolite on the crystallization behavior, spherulite growth and crystal structure of PLA were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscope (POM), wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning election microscope (SEM). On the basis of DSC and POM results, the overall crystallization kinetics of PLA/sepiolite nanocomposites were significantly enhanced leading to higher crystallinity and nucleation density, faster spherulite growth rate (G) and lower crystallization half‐time (t1/2) compared with the neat PLA. Under non‐isothermal conditions, the PLA blend comprising 1.0 wt% of sepiolite still revealed two crystallization peaks upon cooling at a rate of 35°C/min. Above phenomena strongly suggested that sepiolite was an effective nucleating agent for PLA. FTIR and WAXD analyses confirmed that the crystal structure of PLA matrix was the most common α‐form. SEM micrographics illustrated the fine three‐dimensional spherulite structures with the lath‐shape lamellae regularly arranged in radial directions. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1104–1112, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
ISSN:0032-3888
1548-2634
DOI:10.1002/pen.23981