Effects of Compatibilizer on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PLA/NR Blends

Abstract:

The aim of the research is to study the effects of compatibilizer on thermal and mechanical properties ofbiopolymer poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and natural rubber (NR) blends. PLA was blended with NR in the composition of 95/5 weight percentage with present of compatibilizer. The compatibilizers, PLA grafted maleic anhydride (MA) (PLA-g-MA) and NR grafted MA (NR-g-MA) were synthesized in a composition of 9 phr of MA by using internal mixer in presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The formulations of PLA/NR blended with the compatibilizer were in the range of 1, 3, 5 and 10 wt.% of PLA-g-MA and NR-g-MA, respectively. Blending process was conducted using twin screw extruder then were pelletized and hot pressed before characterized. The mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact) and thermal properties of the blends was investigated and from the results, the addition of PLA-g-MA in PLA/NR blendimproved the impact strength and elongation at break of the blends as compared with neat PLA and PLA/NR blend without compatibilizer and for thermal stability, it only had a slight influence on the blends. Addition of NR-g-MA on contrary did not give improvement on mechanical properties but increasing in thermal stability.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 819)
• Pages: 241-245
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.819.241
• Online since: June 2015
• Authors: Nur Syazana Abdullah Sani*, Agus Arsad, Abdul Razak Rahmat, Nor Nisa Balqis Mohammad
• Keywords: Compatibilizer, Mechanical Properties, Melt Blending, Natural Rubber, Polylactic Acid, Thermal Properties

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