Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.45, No.12, 1615-1621, 2005
Fabrication and characterization of biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/layered silicate nanocomposites
In this study biocompatible/biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/layered silicate nanocomposites (PLSNs) were successfully prepared by the intercalation of PLA polymer into organically modified layered silicate through the solution mixing process. Both X-ray diffraction data and transmission electron microscopy images of PLSNs indicate most of the swellable silicate layers were disorderedly intercalated into the PLA matrix. Mechanical properties of the 0.1 wt% silicate-containing fabricated nanocomposites performed by dynamic mechanical analysis have significant improvements in the storage modulus when compared to that of neat PLA matrix. Adding more layered silicates into PLA matrix induced a decrease in the mechanical properties of PLSNs, probably due to the presence of a large dimension of porosity in the fabricated nanocomposites.