Mechanical, structural and thermal properties of Ag-Cu and ZnO reinforced polylactide nanocomposite films

Int J Biol Macromol. 2016 May:86:885-92. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.02.034. Epub 2016 Feb 15.

Abstract

Plasticized polylactic acid (PLA) based nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporating polyethylene glycol (PEG) and two selected nanoparticles (NPs) [silver-copper (Ag-Cu) alloy (<100 nm) and zinc oxide (ZnO) (<50 and <100 nm)] through solvent casting method. Incorporation of Ag-Cu alloy into the PLA/PEG matrix increased the glass transition temperature (Tg) significantly. The crystallinity of the nanocomposites (NCs) was significantly influenced by NP incorporation as evidenced from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The PLA nanocomposite reinforced with NPs exhibited much higher tensile strength than that of PLA/PEG blend. Melt rheology of NCs exhibited a shear-thinning behavior. The mechanical property drastically reduced with a loading of NPs, which is associated with degradation of PLA. SEM micrographs exhibited that both Ag-Cu alloy and ZnO NPs were dispersed well in the PLA film matrix.

Keywords: Glass transition temperature; Melt rheology; Tensile strength; X-ray diffraction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Color
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Rheology
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Tensile Strength*
  • Transition Temperature
  • Zinc Oxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Polyesters
  • Silver
  • poly(lactide)
  • Copper
  • Zinc Oxide