Abstract
The effect of core–shell rubber (CSR) toughening on mechanical and thermal properties of poly(lactic acid)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PLA/CNT) nanocomposites were investigated. The nanocomposites were prepared by direct melt blending method in a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder. The contents of CSR were varied between 5 and 20 wt % while the content of CNT was kept at 5 phr. The extruded samples were injection molded into the desired test specimens for mechanical and thermal properties analysis. The impact strength of PLA/CNT increased with increasing CSR content with concomitant decrease in tensile strength and modulus. Interestingly, the flexural strength increased at low CSR content before decreasing at 15 and 20% content. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis on the second heating cycle shows no crystallinity content for PLA/CNT and all CSR toughened PLA/CNT nanocomposites, while thermogravimetric analysis shows lower thermal degradation of all CSR toughened PLA/CNT as compared to PLA/CNT nanocomposite. This study reveals significant correlation between CSR loading with the mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 47756 |
Journal | Journal of Applied Polymer Science |
Volume | 136 |
Issue number | 28 |
Early online date | 19 Mar 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Jul 2019 |
Keywords
- biodegradable
- extrusion
- fullerenes
- graphene
- morphology
- nanotubes
- thermal properties