Viscoelastic Properties and Thermal Stability of Nanohydroxyapatite Reinforced Poly-Lactic Acid for Load Bearing Applications

Feven Mattews Michael; Mohammad Khalid; Gunasunderi Raju; Chantara Thevy Ratnam; Rashmi Walvekar; Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak

doi:10.3390/molecules26195852

Viscoelastic Properties and Thermal Stability of Nanohydroxyapatite Reinforced Poly-Lactic Acid for Load Bearing Applications

Molecules. 2021 Sep 27;26(19):5852. doi: 10.3390/molecules26195852.

Authors

Feven Mattews Michael^{1

2}, Mohammad Khalid³, Gunasunderi Raju^{3

4}, Chantara Thevy Ratnam⁵, Rashmi Walvekar⁶, Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Alfaisal University, P.O. Box 50927, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia.
³ Graphene & Advanced 2D Materials Research Group (GAMRG), School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Malaysia.
⁴ School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Malaysia.
⁵ Radiation Processing Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Kajang 43000, Malaysia.
⁶ Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia, Jalan Sunsuria, Bandar Sunsuria, Sepang 43900, Malaysia.
⁷ Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Miri 98009, Malaysia.

Abstract

We studied the reinforcing effects of treated and untreated nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) on poly-lactic acid (PLA). The NHA surface was treated with three different types of chemicals; 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyethylenimine (PEI). The nanocomposite samples were prepared using melt mixing techniques by blending 5 wt% untreated NHA and 5 wt% surface-treated NHA (mNHA). Based on the FESEM images, the interfacial adhesion between the mNHA filler and PLA matrix was improved upon surface treatment in the order of mNHA (APTES) > mNHA (SDS) > mNHA (PEI). As a result, the PLA-5wt%mNHA (APTES) nanocomposite showed increased viscoelastic properties such as storage modulus, damping parameter, and creep permanent deformation compared to pure PLA. Similarly, PLA-5wt%mNHA (APTES) thermal properties improved, attaining higher Tc and Tm than pure PLA, reflecting the enhanced nucleating effect of the mNHA (APTES) filler.

Keywords: effectiveness; nanocomposites; nanohydroxyapatite; poly-lactic acid; thermal stability; viscoelastic properties.