Structural Changes in Drawn Poly(L-lactide)/Clay Hybrid Films

The films composed of poly(L‐lactide)(PLLA)/organoclay hybrids (PLACHs) have been prepared via a melt‐compounding process, in which the organoclay paticles are uniformly dispersed in the PLLA matrix. The changes in PLLA crystal orientation for the uniaxially drawn films were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, temperature dependence of the mechanical properties for these drawn films were examined by a dynamic viscoelastometer. After drawing the quenched PLACHs film at 90 °C, the orientation and crystallinity of PLLA crystal increased rapidly with increasing drawing ratio (λ) in the range more than 3 times. At the higher λ, the organoclay platelet particles in the PLACHs became parallel to the draw direction. The mechanical properties of drawn PLACHs were strongly dependent on both clay concentration and λ.