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Talc as a nucleating agent and reinforcing filler in poly(lactic acid) composites
Author(s) -
Shakoor A.,
Thomas N.L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.23543
Subject(s) - talc , crystallinity , materials science , composite material , filler (materials) , compression molding , modulus , molding (decorative) , lactic acid , dynamic mechanical analysis , polymer , mold , biology , bacteria , genetics
The effect of talc on the crystallinity and mechanical properties of a series of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/talc composites has been investigated. The composites were prepared by melt blending followed by compression molding. It was found that talc acted as a nucleating agent and increased the crystallinity of the PLA from 2% to 25%. There was significant improvement in Young's modulus of the composites with increasing talc addition and these results were found to fit the Halpin Tsai model. Thermo‐mechanical tests confirmed that the combination of increased crystallinity and storage modulus leads to improvement in the heat distortion properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:64–70, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers