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Poly(lactic acid)/(styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene)‐g‐maleic anhydride copolymer/sepiolite nanocomposites: I nvestigation of thermo‐mechanical and morphological properties
Author(s) -
Nehra Ranjana,
Maiti S.N.,
Jacob Josemon
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.4108
Subject(s) - sepiolite , materials science , maleic anhydride , ultimate tensile strength , nanocomposite , copolymer , dynamic mechanical analysis , composite material , crystallinity , differential scanning calorimetry , toughness , scanning electron microscope , polymer chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , raw material , physics , thermodynamics
In this study, sepiolite nanoclay is used as reinforcing agent for poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/(styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene)‐g‐maleic anhydride copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MA) 90/10 ( w /w) blend. Effects of sepiolite on thermal behavior, morphology, and thermomechanical properties of PLA/SEBS‐g‐MA blend were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed 7% improvement in crystallinity at 0.5 wt% of sepiolite. The nanocomposite exhibited approximately 36% increase in the tensile modulus and 17% increase in toughness as compared with the blend matrix at 0.5 and 2.5 wt% of sepiolite respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images exhibited sepiolite‐induced morphological changes and dispersion of sepiolite in both PLA and SEBS‐g‐MA phases. Dynamic mechanical analysis and wide angle X‐ray diffraction present evidences in support of the reinforcing nature of sepiolite and phase interaction between the filler and the matrix. This study confirms that sepiolite can improve tensile modulus and toughness of PLA/SEBS‐g‐MA blend.