Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Poly (Lactic Acid) and Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber Blends with Organoclay

Abstract

The effects of the montmorillonite clay surface modified with 25-30 wt% of methyl dihydroxyethyl hydrogenated tallow ammonium (Clay-MHA) on morphology and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber copolymer (NBR)/Clay-MHA composites were investigated. The composites of blends of PLA/NBR with Clay-MHA were prepared by melt mixing in an internal mixer and molded by compression molding. The ratio of PLA and NBR was 80/20 by weight and the Clay-MHA content was 1, 3, 5 and 7 phr. The results showed Young’s modulus and stress at break of the composites increased with increasing Clay-MHA content. While the tensile strength and strain at break of the composites decreased with increasing Clay-MHA content. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the addition of Clay-MHA could improve the miscibility of PLA and NBR to be homogeneous blends and the pore in polymer blends was disappeared.

Improvement of Poly(Lactic Acid) Properties by Using Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber and Polyethylene-g-Maleic Anhydride

“…Moreover, PLA has a high modulus, high strength, superior transparency, and it can be processed similarity to polyethylene. However, the limitation and weak point of PLA is too brittle and low thermal stability, thus it is limited to applications [1][2][3]. So, the improvement of elongation and thermal stability of PLA to overcome the PLA brittleness is required for extending more applications and compete with commodity polyolefins.…”