Effect of CaCO₃ filler reinforcement on PLA matrix composites fabricated through injection moulding

Abstract

Since a decade, the usage of traditional polymers and synthetic fibres has increased rapidly. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to implement biodegradable polymer composites and strict plastic usage guidelines in order to address a range of environmental and safety issues. This article discusses in detail about the use of bio-degradable material like Poly Lactic Acid(PLA) as the matrix and calcium carbonate as the reinforcement used in preparing composite laminates through injection moulding technique.The influence of the CaCO3 on the mechanical properties, as well as the degradation behaviour of the developed specimens was explored by employing Universal testing machine (UTM) and Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The bonding of the functional compounds within the selected substances were observed through Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The conclusions revealed that putting up to 15 wt.% of CaCO3 to a PLA medium boosted the mechanical properties and the specimen containing 10 wt.% of CaCO3 improved thermal persistence and received the deterioration point at nearly 245-250°C. Only traces of residue were found in the composites as determined by TGA. In conclusion, it can be said that the incorporation of powder, permitted the development of biodegradable materials with better specific properties which can possibly be leveraged in lieu of traditional resources in a variety of industrial applications.