Effect of recycling on the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA)/impact modifier blend
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Date
2017-06
Authors
Muhammad Syamil Bin Rosli
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Abstract
The research on the effect of recycling on the mechanical properties of polylactic
acid (PLA)/impact modifier blend was conducted to study and investigated the influenced
of recycling on the mechanical and thermal properties of PLA. PLA were prepared using
extrusion process followed by injection molding. The properties of PLA and PLA blend
with an impact modifier were characterized by tensile test, impact test, melt flow analysis
(MFI), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis
(TGA). Recycling PLA slightly reduced the mechanical properties and the increasing
trend shown by melt flow rate indicates the decreased in viscosity of PLA as the number
of recycling increased. Besides, the thermal decomposition temperature of PLA
decreased as the number of recycling increased due to thermal degradation and reduced
the molecular weight including weakening the thermal resistance of PLA. DSC analysis
shows slightly decreased in glass transition temperature (Tg) for PLA and PLA blends
upon recycling. Incorporation of PLA with an impact modifier is partially compatible to
PLA and imparts the rubbery phase to PLA thus increase the flexibility chain movement
of PLA. Thus, PLA changed a rubbery phase at the lower temperature and hence the Tg
will be lower than pure PLA. Nevertheless, the degree of crystallinity of PLA blend with
an impact modifier literally higher as to compare with pure PLA due to the reduction of
enthalpy of fusion of PLA.