Mechanical properties of poly(l‐lactic acid) composites filled with mesoporous silica

The mechanical properties of mesoporous silica (MCM‐41) filled poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PLA4032D) composites and PLA4032D/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) composites were investigated. It was found that the Young's modulus increased while tensile strength decreased with increasing the filler content; the V‐notched impact fracture strengths of both Izod and Charpy for the PLA4032D/PEG/MCM‐41 composites increased while they decreased slightly for the PLA4032D/MCM‐41 composites, the unnotched Charpy impact strength of both the two composites decreased with increasing the filler loading; the flexural modulus increased slightly while the flexural strength decreased slightly with increasing the filler content. The toughening mechanisms of the composites were discussed by means of observing the impact fracture surface with a scanning electronic microscope, and the synergistic effect between the PEG and MCM‐41 should be one of the major toughening mechanisms. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1118–1126, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers