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Structure and properties of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε‐caprolactone) nanocomposites with kinetically induced nanoclay location
Author(s) -
Urquijo J.,
Dagréou S.,
GuerricaEchevarría G.,
Eguiazábal J. I.
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.43815
Subject(s) - caprolactone , nanocomposite , lactic acid , polymer chemistry , materials science , chemical engineering , chemistry , composite material , polymer , copolymer , geology , paleontology , bacteria , engineering
Poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε‐caprolactone)/organically modified montmorillonite (PLA/PCL/OMMT) nanocomposites were melt‐processed in a twin‐screw extruder under high shear conditions. As a result of the processing conditions employed, the OMMT layers located in the less compatible PCL phase in all the ternary nanocomposites. The morphology of the PLA/PCL blend evolved from “sea‐island” to co‐continuous upon the addition of OMMT. Both the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and viscoelastic characterization suggested similar OMMT dispersion in the reference PLA binary and in the PLA/PCL ternary nanocomposites, regardless of its location in the PLA and PCL phase, respectively. The reinforcing effect of the organoclay was also similar. The addition of OMMT to the PLA/PCL blend fully compensated the loss in stiffness and oxygen barrier performance produced by PCL in PLA; the nanocomposite with 3% OMMT showed the same modulus and permeability values as those of pure PLA. Moreover, the ductile behavior (elongation at break > 80%) of the PLA/PCL blend remained constant even in the nanocomposite containing 5% OMMT. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 43815.