| Title: | Improving the Thermomechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid) via Reduced Graphene Oxide and Bioderived Poly(decamethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) |
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| Authors: | ID Fredi, Giulia (Author)
ID Karimi Jafari, Mahdi (Author)
ID Dorigato, Andrea (Author)
ID Bikiaris, Dimitrios (Author)
ID Pegoretti, Alessandro (Author) |
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| Files: |  materials-15-01316.pdf (16,75 MB)
MD5: 001D8778A6F935393DAE91A6FEC99C41
 https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/4/1316
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Article |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
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| Abstract: | Polylactide (PLA) is the most widely used biopolymer, but its poor ductility and scarce
gas barrier properties limit its applications in the packaging field. In this work, for the first time,
the properties of PLA solvent-cast films are improved by the addition of a second biopolymer, i.e.,
poly(decamethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PDeF), added in a weight fraction of 10 wt%, and a
carbon-based nanofiller, i.e., reduced graphene oxide (rGO), added in concentrations of 0.25–2 phr.
PLA and PDeF are immiscible, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, with PDeF spheroidal domains showing poor adhesion to
PLA. The addition of 0.25 phr of rGO, which preferentially segregates in the PDeF domains, makes
them smaller and considerably rougher and improves the interfacial interaction. Differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC) confirms the immiscibility of the two polymer phases and highlights that rGO
enhances the crystallinity of both polymer phases (especially of PDeF). Thermogravimetric analysis
(TGA) highlights the positive impact of rGO and PDeF on the thermal degradation resistance of PLA.
Quasi-static tensile tests evidence that adding 10 wt% of PDeF and a small fraction of rGO (0.25 phr)
to PLA considerably enhances the strain at break, which raises from 5.3% of neat PLA to 10.0%
by adding 10 wt% of PDeF, up to 75.8% by adding also 0.25 phr of rGO, thereby highlighting the
compatibilizing role of rGO on this blend. On the other hand, a further increase in rGO concentration
decreases the strain at break due to agglomeration but enhances the mechanical stiffness and strength
up to an rGO concentration of 1 phr. Overall, these results highlight the positive and synergistic
contribution of PDeF and rGO in enhancing the thermomechanical properties of PLA, and the
resulting nanocomposites are promising for packaging applications. |
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| Keywords: | nanocomposites, reduced graphene oxide, poly(decamethylene 2, 5-furandicarboxylate), furanoate polyesters, polylactic acid, compatibilization |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 11.01.2022 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 08.02.2022 |
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| Publication date: | 10.02.2022 |
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| Publisher: | MDPI AG |
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| Year of publishing: | 2022 |
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| Number of pages: | 15 str. |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 15, iss. 4 (1316) |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-92196  |
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| UDC: | 543.2/.9:620.3 |
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| ISSN on article: | 1996-1944 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 106898179 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/ma15041316 |
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| Copyright: | © 2022 by the authors |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 20.03.2025 |
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| Views: | 197 |
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| Downloads: | 8 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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