Tailoring Polylactide Properties for Automotive Applications: Effects of Co-Addition of Halloysite Nanotubes and Selected Plasticizer

Among currently available bio-based polymers, polylactide (PLA) and its (nano)composites have interesting physical and mechanical properties (high tensile strength and stiffness, good processability, biodegradability ...). However, they have relatively low thermal stability at high temperature, low toughness and are extremely brittle, all of these drawbacks being obstacles to their utilization in many engineering applications. In this study, PLA-halloysite nanotubes (HNT) nanocomposites are modified by co-addition of a plasticizer (tributyl citrate (TBC)), aiming at reaching mechanical properties suitable for automotive applications. Properties of nanocomposites at different plasticizer contents are characterized with the aim to reach the best compromise between high tensile and flexural strengths and rigidities (ascribed to the matrix and HNT) and impact resistance, ductility, crystallization rat,e and degree of crystallinity, in particular. Results show that plasticized PLA-HNT nanocomposites are very interesting bio-based alternatives for automotive applications, when the plasticizer content is carefully chosen.