Papers by Author: Punmanee Juntuek

Abstract: From our previous study, natural rubber (NR) was used to improve toughness of poly (lactic acid) (PLA). Impact strength and elongation at break of PLA was increased when adding NR. Moreover, by using NR-g-GMA as compatibilizer for PLA and NR blend, impact strength and elongation at break was improved. However, tensile strength and modulus of PLA/NR blend with and without NR-g-GMA were decreased. In this study, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and vetiver grass fiber were used as fillers in PLA/NR blend. With the addition of CaCO₃ into PLA/NR blend with NR-g-GMA, impact strength and modulus of the composite were further increased with a loss in tensile strength. In contrast, the addition of vetiver grass fiber into PLA/NR blend with NR-g-GMA led to an increase in tensile strength and modulus and a decrease in impact strength and elongation at break. The onset degradation temperatures of PLA composites were lower than that of PLA and PLA/NR blend.

Abstract: Polylactic acid (PLA) and natural rubber (NR) were melt blended with vetiver grass fiber using an internal mixer. Heat treatment at the temperature of 180°C was done to obtain heat treated vetiver grass fiber. Glycidyl methacrylate grafted natural rubber (NR-g-GMA) was used as a compatibilizer of PLA/vetiver/NR composites. The injection molding and compression molding were used to prepare the specimens. Molecular weight determination of PLA before and after processing was done by Gel Permeable Chromatography (GPC).Comparisons between the mechanical properties of the composites prepared from injection molding and compression molding were made.