Fabrication and characterization of sucrose palmitate reinforced poly(lactic acid) bionanocomposite films

Abstract

Environmental issues concerning petroleum-based polymers have begun a growing emphasis to utilize sustainable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based packaging. However, PLA has its own limitations such as brittleness, high gas permeabilities and slow crystallization rate. With the aim to alleviate these limitations, we made a maiden effort to use a food additive, sucrose palmitate (SP) as eco-friendly filler for fabrication of PLA based bionanocomposites. FTIR analysis elucidated the presence of hydrogen bonding and intermolecular interaction between PLA and reinforcement. Ordered orientation of the SP in the PLA matrix visualized by TEM analysis revealed uniform dispersion of SP filler into PLA matrix. DSC and XRD results confirmed that the incorporated bio-filler acted as a nucleating agent and thus partially contributed towards the crystallinity of PLA-SP bionanocomposites. Enhancement in the tensile strength and elongation at break up to 83 and 56% respectively is obtained. The best positive influence for the oxygen barrier was confirmed for the PLA-SP bionanocomposite film where the reduction in oxygen permeability by 69% is achieved in comparison to pure PLA. V C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41320.

Effect of silk nano‐disc dispersion on mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of poly(lactic acid) based bionanocomposites

“…Improved ductility indicates that CSNs act as a bridge to prolong the fracture process of PLA bionanocomposites thus reducing the risk of failure. The stiffness of PLA/CSN bionanocomposites is superior to PLA . The mean hardness value of melt blended PLA is measured ∼83.5 ± 2.7 which is close to values reported previously .…”

“…The stiffness of PLA/CSN bionanocomposites is superior to PLA. 11 The mean hardness value of melt blended PLA is measured $83.5 6 2.7 which is close to values reported previously. 23 Upon addition of 1 wt % CSN the hardness value shows improvement of 2.3%.…”

“…At higher loading, CSNs tend to form aggregates which generate voids causing poor interaction between filler and polymer matrix thus reducing the reinforcing effect resulting in poor mechanical properties. 11 As observed from the stress-strain curves illustrated in Figure 3(c), that a plateau region joining strain at peak stress and break strain is formed. This plateau is much smaller in case of PLA as compared to composites.…”

“…Increment in the tensile strength can be ascribed to the good adhesion between PLA chains and CSN which hinder the movement of the chains and restricts the deformability, which ultimately results in reinforcing effect which increases the resistance to the mechanical pull. At higher loading, CSNs tend to form aggregates which generate voids causing poor interaction between filler and polymer matrix thus reducing the reinforcing effect resulting in poor mechanical properties . As observed from the stress–strain curves illustrated in Figure (c), that a plateau region joining strain at peak stress and break strain is formed.…”

“…PLA‐based composites fabricated using biofillers are sparsely represented currently. The influence of different biofillers such as cellulose, starch, cellulose nanocrystals, chitosan, gum, sucrose palmitate, silk on the thermomechanical and permeation properties of PLA have been examined.…”