Effect of silica on thermal properties and mechanical properties of reprocessed PLA/PBAT biocomposite

Abstract

This research aims to study the effects of silica on mechanical properties and thermal properties of PLA/PBAT composites by multiple extrusions with 0.1, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 % silica. This research used a twin screw extruder to mix Ecovio with silica. Thermal properties and melt flow index of the compounds were investigated before they were processed by injection molding machine to fabricate the sample for mechanical testing. The results showed that reprocessing of PLA PBAT and Ecovio did not effect to the modulus tensile strength %elongation and impact strength. The crystalline temperature was increased but onset temperature and decomposition temperature were decreased with reprocessing of PLA and PBAT but Ecovio changeless. However, the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of the polymer did not change with reprocessing. The melt flow index of PLA PBAT and Ecovio were increased with reprocessing. The modulus tensile strength and %elongation were increase but the impact strength was decreased by the addition of silica. The crystallization temperature was decreased but the glass transition temperature was increased by the addition of silica. However, silica did not effect to the melting temperature of composites. And the melt flow index decreasing slightly with the addition of silica to Ecovio.