EVALUATION OF THE MACROMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PLA-BASED NANOCOMPOSITES BY MEANS OF THREE-POINT BENDING METHOD

The synergistic effect of using two carbon nanofillers in PLA die on the nanocomposites mechanical properties was studied in the present work. The polylactic acid is relatively brittle and semi-crystalline polymer selected to be used as matrix because of its biodegradable features. It was modified with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by means of melt extrusion preparation method. The maximum flexural stress and tangent modulus of elasticity of 3D printed nanocomposite samples were defined by three-point bending experiments using UMT-2 equipment. It was found that some compounds, incorporated with both graphene and carbon nanotubes in the PLA structure, exhibit better mechanical performance comparing to the nanocomposites loaded with single carbon nanofiller. SEM analysis was made to assess the carbon fillers dispersion.