Mechanical crystallization properties and foaming behavior of teflon-reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites

An Huang, Hrishikesh Kharbas, Tom Ellingham, Xiang Fang Peng, Lih Sheng Turng

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

In this study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites containing different amounts of PTFE were prepared by melt blending. Multiple properties of the prepared composites were investigated including mechanical, crystallization, and foaming properties. Tensile test results indicated that the mechanical properties of the composite with PTFE showed significant reinforcement and toughening effects. The average elongation-At-break of the composite increased by 72% compared to pure PLA. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the PTFE elongated into fibrils during blending and formed a physical network of entanglements in the melt. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that PTFE had a significant nucleation effect and greatly increased the crystallinity of the PLA matrix. The injection molding foaming experiments revealed that adding 1 wt% PTFE had the most notable heterogeneous nucleation effect, with the cell size decreasing from 81.46 μm for neat PLA to 25.2 μm and the cell density increasing from 1.34×108 cells/cm3 to 2.53×109 cells/cm3.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationANTEC 2016 - Proceedings of the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Plastics Engineers
PublisherSociety of Plastics Engineers
Pages1145-1150
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9780692719619
StatePublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes
Event74th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Plastics Engineers, SPE ANTEC Indianapolis 2016 - Indianapolis, United States
Duration: 23 05 201625 05 2016

Publication series

NameAnnual Technical Conference - ANTEC, Conference Proceedings

Conference

Conference74th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Plastics Engineers, SPE ANTEC Indianapolis 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityIndianapolis
Period23/05/1625/05/16

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