Kinetics of Water Absorption and Thermal Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Organomontmorillonite/Poly(ethylene glycol) Nanocomposites

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/organomontmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites were prepared by a melt intercalation technique. The effects of OMMT and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on the thermal properties and water absorption behavior of PLA were investigated. The melting temperature and degree of crystallinity were comparable for the PLA and its nanocomposites. The glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature of PLA were decreased by the addition of PEG. X-ray diffraction results revealed the formation of PLA nanocomposites, as the OMMT was partly intercalated and partly exfoliated. The maximum moisture absorption of PLA was increased in the presence of PEG and the diffusivity of the PLA nanocomposites decreased with increasing concentrations of PEG. However, the activation energy of the nanocomposites increased as the loading of PEG increased. These results indicated that the incorporation of OMMT and PEG enhanced the water-barrier properties of the PLA. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 17:40-47, 2011. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers