The Impact of Filler Geometry on Polylactic Acid-Based Sustainable Polymer Composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Biocomposites

Background:

• Biocomposites are gaining interest for industrial applications.
• Polylactic acid (PLA) is a widely used polymer matrix.
• Challenges exist in blending hydrophilic cellulose fillers with hydrophobic PLA, impacting composite properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the knowledge gap regarding the influence of filler shape and shape factors on PLA biocomposites.
• To analyze the effect of various pure cellulose forms and mineral nanocomponents as fillers.
• To investigate the impact of different filler shapes and loading levels on composite properties.

Main Methods:

• Production of PLA biocomposites using melt blending.
• Incorporation of various fillers: three types of cellulose fibers, precipitated calcium carbonate, and montmorillonite.
• Testing of composites at two filler concentrations: 5% and 30% by weight.
• Analysis of thermomechanical and physico-chemical properties.

Main Results:

• Filler shape and degree of filling significantly influence the thermomechanical and physico-chemical properties of PLA biocomposites.
• Hydrophilic cellulose fillers present challenges in achieving uniform dispersion within the hydrophobic PLA matrix.
• The study provides graphical data and discussion on the structure-property relationships.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the role of filler morphology is crucial for optimizing PLA biocomposite performance.
• The selection of appropriate filler shapes can mitigate issues like agglomeration and voids.
• This research offers insights for designing advanced biocomposite materials with tailored properties.