Microcellular injection molding of polylactide-montmorillonite nanocomposites

Adam Kramschuster, Shaoqin Gong*, Tao Li, Tongnian Li, Lih Sheng Turng

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to conferenceConference Paperpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents the effects of adding montmorillonite nanoclay (Cloisite®20A and 30B) on the mechanical properties (specific modulus, specific tensile strength, specific toughness, and strain at break) of both solid and microcellular polylactide (PLA) components, as well as their effects on the cell morphology of the microcellular components. In general, the addition of nanoclay into biobased polylactide improved the specific moduli of both solid and microcellular components and facilitated the formation of smaller cell sizes and higher cell densities. In addition, adding nanoclay reduced the strain at break and specific toughness of solid PLA nanocomposite components. However, the strain at break and specific toughness of microcellular PLA nanocomposites were largely improved in comparison to microcellular PLA, especially when the loading level of the nanoclay was at 3 and 5%, presumably due to the lack of large voids as well as the smaller cell size and higher cell density.

Original languageEnglish
Pages59-63
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
EventSociety of Petroleum Engineers - 5th International Conference on Thermoplastic Foam, FOAMS 2006 - Chicago, IL, United States
Duration: 13 09 200614 09 2006

Conference

ConferenceSociety of Petroleum Engineers - 5th International Conference on Thermoplastic Foam, FOAMS 2006
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityChicago, IL
Period13/09/0614/09/06

Keywords

  • Microcellular injection molding
  • Montmorillonite
  • Nanoclay
  • Nanocomposite
  • PLA
  • Polylactide

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