Thermomechanical, Crystallization and Melting Behavior of Plasticized Poly(Lactic Acid) Nanocomposites

The incorporation of filler and plasticizer provides effective nucleation and mechanical reinforcement in polymer composites to impart flexibility, toughness, thermal stability and tensile strength of PLA composites that can be used in the development of packaging applications. In this paper, the inclusion of plasticizer and reinforcement of nanofiller in PLA matrix prepared using solvent casting method aims to improve the thermomechanical properties that consequently alter the crystallization and melting behavior of PLA composites. Plasticized PLA with different percentages of TiO2 at 2.0, 3.5, 5.0 and 7.0 % w/w were dispersed in PLA solution using mechanical mixer and ultrasonication technique to introduce a matrix reinforcing nanophase within the composite. The thermomechanical properties and thermal behavior of PLA nanocomposites were characterized using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). DSC cooling curves at low scanning rate of 2.0 K·min-1 proved that the presence of TBC in PLA matrix increased the crystallinity of plasticized PLA nanocomposites that initiated the formation of perfect spherulites. TBC increased the crystallization activity during cooling, which in turn reduced the recrystallization effect on heating, in parallel with DMA results that revealed small peak of cold-crystallization activity on PLA nanocomposites with the addition of plasticizer observed at temperature range of 80 °C to 100 °C. Nanofiller induced nucleation for crystallization of PLA matrix and plasticizer accelerated the overall crystallization process. Considerable adjustments of plasticizer and nanofiller in PLA matrix in having a good balance of stiffness and flexibility are a practical strategy that has a potential in biopolymer medical engineering and in the development of packaging applications.