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Mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties of poly(lactic acid)/chitosan nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Elsawy Moataz A.,
Saad Gamal R.,
Sayed Aisha M.
Publication year - 2016
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.24328
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , ultimate tensile strength , thermal stability , extrusion , composite material , elongation , lactic acid , dielectric , thermal analysis , crystallization , chemical engineering , thermal , genetics , physics , optoelectronics , biology , meteorology , bacteria , engineering
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) loaded with various levels of chitosan nanoparticles (CsNP) (0–5.0%) were prepared by twin‐screw extrusion. The nanocomposites were investigated based on their morphology, thermal, mechanical and dielectric properties. The SEM morphology showed that CsNP was dispersed uniformly in the PLA matrix. Thermal analysis through DSC revealed that the cold crystallization temperature of PLA in the case of nanocomposites slightly decreased with increasing content of CsNP; indicating a limit nucleating effect of CsNP. TGA analysis revealed that the incorporation CsNP slightly decreased the thermal stability of the PLA matrix. The mechanical analysis indicated that the incorporation of the CsNP in the PLA matrix improved the elongation and the impact strength, but decreased the tensile strength. The dielectric properties of these materials have been investigated for the α‐relaxation process as a function of the temperature and frequency. The α‐relaxation process was analyzed with Vogel–Fulcher–Tamman and Havriliak–Negami models and fitting parameters and their evolution were obtained. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 56:987–994, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers