Effect of Surface Modification on Impact Strength and Flexural Strength of Poly(lactic acid)/Silicon Carbide Nanocomposites

Silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles were surface modified using a silane coupling agent, and their properties were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope. Biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites were manufactured from PLA and SiC nanoparticles using a solution-blending method. The effect of SiC surface modification on the impact strength, flexural strength, and morphology of the PLA/SiC nanocomposites was studied. The impact strength of the PLA/surface-modified SiC (S-SiC) nanocomposites improved remarkably with increasing S-SiC content and scanning electron micrographs revealed that the PLA/S-SiC nanocomposites possessed a more ductile fracture surface than neat PLA or the PLA/SiC nanocomposites.