In-situ polymerised PLA-SEP bionanocomposites: effect of silanol groups on the properties of PLA

• Published in: Journal of polymer research Vol. 27; no. 5
• Main Authors: Manju, P., Krishnan, P. Santhana Gopala, Nayak, S. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-05-2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diffraction; Electron microscopy; Fourier transforms; Hydrogen; Hydrogen bonding; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Melting points; Microscopy; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Original Paper; Polylactic acid; Polymer Sciences; Polymerization; Sepiolite; Spectrum analysis; X-rays; In-situ polymerization; Hydrogen bonding; Sepiolite; Bionanocomposites
• ISSN: 1022-9760; 1572-8935
• DOI: 10.1007/s10965-020-02098-1

Poly(lactic acid)-Sepiolite bionanocomposites (PLA-SEP BNCs) with different weight percentages of SEP starting from 1 to 7 wt.% were synthesized by following in-situ polymerization technique. BNCs were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), wide angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD),
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Si-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis (
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Si-NMR). FT-IR studies indicated the existence of hydrogen bonding between SEP and PLA whereas WAXD analysis indicated the formation of BNCs.
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Si-NMR analysis supported existence of hydrogen bonding between SEP and PLA. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that there was no significant agglomeration of SEP in BNCs. Upon incorporation of SEP, melting point of PLA increased. Melting point of PLA and SP7 indicated the formation of β- and α- crystals respectively.