The combination of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with
polycarbonate (PC) which presents high inherent thermal stability and
mechanical properties is an attractive strategy to overcome PLA brittleness and
poor thermal resistance. To improve affinity between the two materials and
their dispersion into the blend, an organophilic montmorillonite (MMT) has been
added and reactive compatibilization through catalyzed transesterification has
been investigated. The properties were studied using differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and
scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study of the thermal properties
revealed the immiscibility of the uncatalyzed blend but noticeable changes were
detected on the PLA crystallization and melting behaviors after the addition of
the catalyst. The SEM observations showed that MMT and the catalyst contribute
in the improvement of the dispersion. The TG results revealed that MMT
increases the thermal stability of the blend and showed new stages of
decomposition due to the different structures resulting from the interchange
reactions.
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Research Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | July 31, 2019 |
Submission Date | November 2, 2018 |
Acceptance Date | July 15, 2019 |
Published in Issue | Year 2019 Volume: 5 Issue: 2 |