Poly(lactic acid)/Aluminum Oxide Composites Fabricated by Sol-Gel and Melt Compounding Processes

✍ Scribed by Isinay E. Yuzay; Rafael Auras; Susan Selke

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 580 KB
• Volume: 295
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1438-7492
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.200900223

✦ Synopsis

Aluminum-oxide-coated PLA pellets, particles derived from aluminum oxide sol-gel, and calcinated a-Al 2 O 3 powders were used to fabricate PLA/AlO x composites. The formation of aluminum oxide was confirmed by FTIR and EDS. SEM images suggested the melt compounding system provided a fairly homogeneous dispersion of AlO x particles in the PLA matrix. XRD analysis showed PLA and PLA/AlO x composites were both amorphous. The incorporation of AlO x particles did not alter the melting temperature of PLA. However, the shape and intensity of the melting endotherms was significantly changed, suggesting bimodal melting behavior. UV-Vis transmission spectra suggested that PLA/AlO x composites may act as a better UV barrier than neat PLA.