Processing and properties characterisation of polylactide based fully biodegradable composites

Abstract

This project has a goal to manufacture and characterise fully bio-degradable composite material based on polylactic acid (PLA) and wood pulp which has the potential to be used as components in the automotive industry. PLA is acting as the matrix and wood pulp as the reinforcing fibre. PLA has been chosen because it is a bio-based polymer which can be synthesized from agricultural products such as starch, tapioca roots or sugar cane. Its application are also foreseen to be enlarged from packaging material to electronic and structural applications. On the other hand, using wood pulp in structural components would allow the further development of Swedish forest industry. PLA has a glass transition temperature between 50ºC and 65ºC. Its mechanical properties are also decreased significantly by thermal degradation during melt processing. Recent research has shown that the end-all properties of PLA, for instance, mechanical properties and fire resistance, may be improved by using nanoparticles, such as nanoclay [1] [2]. In this project PLA is modified with the addition of nanoclay particles and chain extender. Two types of composites were therefore manufactured, one is composed of neat PLA and wood pulp, which is abbreviated as PW, and the other one is composed of nanoclay and chain extender modified PLA and wood pulp, which is abbreviated as (MPW). The composites were manufactured at Swerea SICPOMP in Piteå and the characterisation tests were carried out in Luleå University of Technology (LTU) in Luleå and Swerea SICOMP.