Effect of Compatibilizing Agent on the Properties of Highly Crystalline Composites Based on Poly(lactic acid) and Wood Flour and/or Mica

This article contains a concept of the mechanical properties improvement of the highly crystalline poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and filled composites. PLA as a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer was plasticized with poly(ethylene glycol) and filled with 30 vol% of organic and/or inorganic filler. The...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of polymers and the environment 2011-06, Vol.19 (2), p.372-381
Main Authors: Gregorova, Adriana, Sedlarik, Vladimir, Pastorek, Miroslav, Jachandra, Hari, Stelzer, Franz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodegradation
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Compatibility
Composite materials
Crystal structure
Crystallization
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology
Fillers
Flour
Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
Materials Science
MDI
Mechanical properties
Original Paper
Plasticizers
Polymer Sciences
Polymers
Wood
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This article contains a concept of the mechanical properties improvement of the highly crystalline poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and filled composites. PLA as a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer was plasticized with poly(ethylene glycol) and filled with 30 vol% of organic and/or inorganic filler. The degree of crytallinity was intentionally increased by annealing. The filler/polymer matrix interphase was modified with the addition of 4, 4′-Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The effect of compatibilizing as well as plasticizing agent on the thermal and mechanical properties, the water-absorption behaviour and crystallization characteristics were studied. The results indicated that high content of filler and crystallites have a strong influence on the composite′s mechanical properties despite of the plasticizer content, showing a high Young modulus. The MDI seems to react in preference easy with plasticizing agent and then alternatively with filler due to the low functionality of commercial PLA grade.
ISSN:1566-2543
1572-8919
1572-8900
DOI:10.1007/s10924-011-0292-6