Open Access

ARTICLE

Biodegradable PLA/PBAT/Clay Nanocomposites: Morphological, Rheological and Thermomechanical Behavior

Juan P. Correa^1,2*, Alejandro Bacigalupe^2,3, Jorge Maggi⁴, Patricia Eisenberg^2,3

1 National Council of Scientific and Technical Research, Av. Rivadavia 1917, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2 National University of San Martín – UNSAM 3iA, Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3 National Institute of Industrial Technology, Av. Gral. Paz 5445, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
4 Technology Center of Mineral Resources and Ceramics, Cno. Centenario y 506, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

*Corresponding author:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2016, 4(4), 258-265. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2016.634117

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT)-based nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending of PLA and PBAT with 5 wt% of unmodified (Cloisite Na) and modified (Cloisite 30B) montmorillonites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed an intercalated structure in both nanocomposites. The extent of the intercalation was higher for nanocomposites based on modified clays (OMMT) with chemical affinity with the polymer matrix. Rheological measurements have shown an increase in viscosity and a better degree of clay dispersion for nanocomposites containing OMMT. Nanocomposites with OMMT showed lower PBAT separated phase particle size and improvements in thermal stability, mechanical properties and water vapor barrier when compared with the neat blend. Finally, our results showed that the organically modified clay has a higher affinity than natural clay with the studied polymer blend.

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