Premium
PLA/SiO 2 composites: Influence of the filler modifications on the morphology, crystallization behavior, and mechanical properties
Author(s) -
Hakim R. H.,
Cailloux J.,
Santana O. O.,
Bou J.,
SánchezSoto M.,
Odent J.,
Raquez J. M.,
Dubois P.,
Carrasco F.,
Maspoch M. Ll.
Publication year - 2017
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.45367
Subject(s) - differential scanning calorimetry , materials science , fumed silica , crystallization , composite material , calendering , ultimate tensile strength , extrusion , scanning electron microscope , dispersion (optics) , activation energy , arrhenius equation , reactive extrusion , chemical engineering , chemistry , engineering , physics , optics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
Films of an architecturally modified poly(lactic acid) (PLA REx ) with three different types of fumed silica nanofillers (SiO 2 ) were processed through reactive extrusion‐calendering in a pilot plant. The effects of the SiO 2 type on both the dispersion and the crystallization behavior under dynamic and isothermal conditions are investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The mechanical properties are assessed by tensile testing. TEM micrographs showed that the improved chemical affinity of both surface‐treated SiO 2 toward PLA REx end groups did not improve particle dispersion. DSC results revealed that untreated SiO 2 nucleated PLA REx more efficiently than both surface‐modified silicas. The activation energy for the isothermal crystallization process, as determined by an Arrhenius method, suggests that addition of untreated SiO 2 enhances the crystallization rate of PLA REx . However, it seems that the tensile behavior remained unchanged whether silicas were added or not. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45367.