Poly(lactic acid)/Phormium tenax composites: Morphology and thermo-mechanical behavior

• Published in: Polymer composites Vol. 32; no. 9; pp. 1362 - 1368
• Main Authors: De Rosa, I.M., Iannoni, A., Kenny, J.M., Puglia, D., Santulli, C., Sarasini, F., Terenzi, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.09.2011; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Plant fiber; Mechanical properties; Plant leaf; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Lactone polymer; Composite material; Tensile strength; Thermal stability; Thermal properties; Lactic acid polymer; Dynamic mechanical properties; Natural fiber; Morphology; Aliphatic polymer; Concentration effect; Injection molding; Spermatophyta; Fracture mode
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.21159

Composites of Phormium tenax fibers in a poly(lactic acid) matrix with fiber content of up to 40 wt%, produced by injection molding and twin screw compounding, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and mechanical tests (static and dynamic). Thermal analysis showed that cold‐crystallization peak shifted to lower temperatures with increasing fiber content, confirming that the addition of Phormium fiber has the effect of promoting crystallinity. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results showed that the addition of Phormium fiber did not affect significantly the Tg of the polymer and the area under the tan δ decreased with the addition of Phormium fiber. Tensile modulus has been consistently increased by reinforcing the composite with growing amounts of fibers, whilst the effect on tensile strength is less evident. SEM micrographs of fracture surfaces allowed highlighting failure modes of the composites, which included a diffuse presence of fiber pull‐out and debonding. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers