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Epoxidized natural rubber toughened poly(lactic acid)/halloysite nanocomposites with high activation energy of water diffusion
Author(s) -
Tham Wei Ling,
Poh Beng Teik,
Mohd Ishak Zainal Arifin,
Chow Wen Shyang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.42850
Subject(s) - halloysite , materials science , nanocomposite , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , natural rubber , absorption of water , composite material , compression molding , crystallization , heat deflection temperature , nucleation , compounding , activation energy , thermal stability , ultimate tensile strength , chemical engineering , izod impact strength test , chemistry , organic chemistry , mold , engineering
ABSTRACT Poly(lactic acid)/halloysite nanotube (PLA/HNT) nanocomposites were prepared using melt compounding followed by compression molding. Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) was used to toughen the PLA nanocomposites. The properties of PLA/HNT nanocomposites were characterized by impact tests, thermal analysis (DSC), morphological analysis (FESEM, TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Water absorption tests were performed at three immersion temperature (30, 40, 50°C). The maximum water absorption ( M m ), diffusion coefficient ( D ), and the activation energy of water diffusion ( E a ) were determined. The impact strength of PLA/HNT6 nanocomposites was increased significantly to ∼296% by the addition of 15 wt % ENR. The incorporation of HNT and ENR increase its nucleation effect and assist in the crystallization process of PLA. The HNT has good affinity with PLA and ENR, which was revealed by TEM and FTIR. The M m of PLA was increased in the presence of HNT and ENR. Nevertheless, the D value and the E a of the PLA nanocomposites were found to be affected by the HNT and ENR contents. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 42850.