Poly(lactic acid) phase transitions in the presence of nano calcium carbonate: Opposing effect of nanofiller on static and dynamic measurements

The effect of stearic acid-coated nano calcium carbonate (NCC) on transitions and chain mobility of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was investigated. Dispersion state of NCC in polymeric matrix was explored using scanning electron microscopy and surface tension component measurements. Trends of PLA transitional phenomena were investigated using the results of dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the nanocomposite systems based on PLA and NCC. In addition, two types of crystal structures and decreasing the glass transition temperature were distinguished using temperature-modulated DSC (TMDSC). Higher melting points of polymer crystals were found in TMDSC experiments due to low and dynamic heating rate compared to the conventional DSC. Dynamics of polymer chains, affected by NCC, were quantified using cooperativity length, xi(alpha), and the number of relaxing structural units, N-alpha, in the glass transition region. NCC particles hindered the cooperative motion of polymer chains at glass transitions and crystallization in TMDSC measurements, whereas the DMA results indicated that NCC particles may act as lubricant and simplified chain mobility.