Synergistic reinforcing of poly(lactic acid) by poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) and alumina nanoparticles

Biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends and PLA/PBAT/Al2O3 nanocomposites were fabricated via solution blending. The influence of PBAT and Al2O3 content on the thermal stability, flexural properties, impact strength, and morphology of both the PLA/PBAT blends and the PLA/PBAT/Al2O3 nanocomposites were investigated. The impact strength of the PLA/PBAT/Al2O3 nanocomposites containing 5 wt% PBAT increased from 4.3 to 5.2 kJ/m(2) when the Al2O3 content increased from 0 to 1 wt%. This represents a 62% increase compared to the impact strength of pristine PLA and a 20% increase compared to the impact strength of PLA/PBAT blends containing 5 wt% PBAT. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed that the Al2O3 nanoparticles in the PLA/PBAT/Al2O3 nanocomposites function as a compatibilizer to improve the interfacial interaction between the PBAT and the PLA matrix.

Automated summary

Biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends and PLA/PBAT/Al2O3 nanocomposites were prepared by solution blending, and the effects of PBAT and Al2O3 content on their properties were investigated. The addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles improved the impact strength of PLA/PBAT/Al2O3 nanocomposites and enhanced the interfacial interaction between PBAT and PLA matrix.