The effect of maleated polylactic acid (PLA) as an interfacial modifier in PLA‐talc composites

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA)-talc composites were reactively compatibilized using maleic anhydride-functionalized PLA (MAPLA) as an interfacial additive. The effect of MAPLA was investigated based on evaluation of composite properties and examination of the microstructure using scanning electron microscopy. The incorporation of MAPLA contributed to an increase in the crystallinity of PLA in the composites, and when added in an optimal concentration, showed improved tensile strength. Thermo-mechanical measurements indicated the reinforcement effect of the talc and the coupling effect of the MAPLA inclusion. Microscopic studies revealed the composite microstructures along with the corresponding modes of failure which were in accordance with the mechanical behavior. Overall, this investigation provided experimental evidence of enhanced adhesion at the interface, which is believed to be due to the MAPLA addition.

Hydrolysis and thermal degradation of poly(L‐lactide) in the presence of talc and modified talc

“…Battegazzire et al20 provided excellent information on the crystallization kinetics of PLA/talc composites. The dispersion and wettability between the matrix and the filler are essential for PLA composites with advanced material properties 21…”

Thermal processability and properties of highly filled poly(vinyl alcohol)/talc composite

“…The same phenomenon has also been observed in non-polar polymer/talc composite containing compatibiliser. 31 Moreover, compared with the original talc particles, the size and thickness of talc in PVA/talc composite obtained by melt processing obviously decrease. As mentioned above, there scarcely exist surface charges and interlayer cations in talc, and talc layers are bonded together only by weak Van deer Waals forces, making them easily stripped from the layered stacks of talc due to the strong shearing and mixing actions of the screw and the strong interactions between PVA and talc during the melt processing, and even orient along the melt flow direction, as shown in Fig.…”

Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties and Dimensional Stability of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch-Kenaf Core and Oil Palm Mesocarp-Kenaf Core Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Poly(lactic acid) Biocomposites by Borax Decahydrate Modification of Fibers

“…Accordingly, only a small increase in mechanical properties was observed for the borax-treated hybrid fiber-PLA composites, providing almost a comparable significant difference with the untreated hybrid fiber-PLA composites. A major increment in mechanical properties of borax-treated hybrid fiber-PLA composites may be achieved by modification of the PLA via reactive compatibilization with the application of a suitable coupling agent, as previously posited by (Fowlks and Narayan 2010). …”