Performance,structure-property relationship and biodegradability of poly(lactic acid)/amide ammonium acetate organic vermiculite intercalation nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

The ammonium acetate organic vermiculite (A-OVMT) was synthesized with phenylenediamine and ammonium acetate by solution intercalation. Then, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/A-OVMT nanocomposites were prepared by the melt intercalation. Performance, structure-property relationship and biodegradability of PLA/A-OVMT nanocomposites were investigated, which showed that A-OVMT acted as heterogeneous nucleation in PLA matrix. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and impact strength of PLA/A-OVMT (0.3 wt%) nanocomposites had an increase of 8.43%, 4.87%, and 45.92%, respectively. Moreover, the limit oxygen index of PLA was enhanced to 23.50%, and its vertical combustion grade of was up to UL-94 V-2. However, A-OVMT slightly inhibited the biodegradability of PLA.