Melt rheological investigation of polylactide-nanographite platelets biopolymer composites

This study is an analytical investigation of processability of biopolymer-carbon based nanofiller composites primarily through rheological investigation of samples. The composites were fabricated via dry mixing and melt-blending of biodegradable polylactide (PLA) and nanographite platelets (NGP) in a Brabender twin screw extruder. A range of different nanofiller contents (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 wt %) were studied for NGP containing composites. The morphology was studied with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques and showed poor dispersion, with agglomerates, tactoids, and exfoliated layers present. Mechanical properties showed an optimum at 3 wt % filler. Results showed that the composites exhibited higher elastic and viscous moduli than neat PLA. The rheological percolation threshold predicted by changes in slope (a) as well as liquid-solid transition theory of samples was found around 3 wt % through the change from liquid-like behavior to pseudo-solid-like behavior at terminal region during dynamic oscillatory measurements. NGP nanofillers were found to enhance the viscoelastic and mechanical properties of PLA at low concentrations; however, an efficient dispersion of nanofillers within polymer by melt intercalation method of mixing was not achieved. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 00:000- 000, 2013.