Mechanical Properties and Morphology of PLA Filled with Nanoclay

Abstract

Abstract

This research was to study the mechanical properties and morphology of Poly lactic acid (PLA) filled with varying
amount of nanoclay at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 (% wt), respectively. Mixing and shaping procedures of the PLA/nanoclay specimen were carried out by single screw extrusion and injection moulding, respectively. Mechanical properties of the PLA/nanoclay composites were investigated. As a result, the effect of percentage of the nanoclay showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of the PLA filled with nanoclay tended to decrease with the increasing amount of nanoclay, whereas
impact strength and hardness of the PLA filled with the nanoclay particles seemed to be increased when the content of nanoclay increased. Besides, the mechanical properties of the PLA filled with treated nanoclay became higher than those of PLA filled with untreated nanoclay. The morphology of the PLA/nanoclay composites indicated that PLA filled with treated nanoclay would be better in mixing than those mixed with untreated nanoclay.