pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S07 - (General Session 7) Films and Fibers
Oral Presentation
 
 

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid) Compounded with Silicone Rubber and Talc Bioplastic

Khuenkeao Thidarat (1), Covavisaruch Sirijutaratana (1)*, Petchwattana Nawadon (2)

(1) Chulalongkorn University - Bangkok - Thailand, (2) Srinakarinwirot University - Bangkok - Thailand

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is biodegradable bioplastic with reasonably high tensile strength and modulus. However, its brittleness and low crystallinity led to low thermal stability and limited applications. This research aims to improve the toughness by blending with silicone rubber (SR) and enhance crystallization of PLA by using talc. Films of PLA/SR and PLA/talc were prepared by using a twin screw extruder with film blowing facility. Mechanical, thermal and physical properties of both PLA/SR and PLA/talc films were investigated. The ductility of PLA was significantly improved by blending with SR; the addition of only 1 wt% SR enhanced the elongation at break of the PLA/SR film by about 3 folds to 10.5% compared 3% observed in neat PLA. DSC thermograms revealed that the addition of talc effectively raise the degree of crystallinity from 1.4% of the neat PLA to 4.1% for the PLA films with 10wt% talc. The cold crystallization temperature (Tcc) of PLA also decreased with increasing talc content. Under tension, the PLA/SR film yielded more easily at lower stress than those nucleated with talc. Talc enhance a both tear resistance and impact strength while the SR raised the latter. Significant surge of impact strength to 716 J/m was found in the PLA film with 10wt% talc while that of neat PLA film was 328 J/m. Microscopic study revealed talc dispersed and adhered well to the PLA matrix while SR was slightly more difficult to disperse. Keywords: Poly(lactic acid), Silicone rubber, Talc, Blo