Comparison between Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polylactic acid and Natural Rubber Blend using Calcium Carbonate and Vetiver Grass Fiber as Fillers

摘要

From our previous study, natural rubber (NR) was used to improve toughness of poly (lactic acid) (PLA). Impact strength and elongation at break of PLA was increased when adding NR. Moreover, by using NR-g-GMA as compatibilizer for PLA and NR blend, impact strength and elongation at break was improved. However, tensile strength and modulus of PLA/NR blend with and without NR-g-GMA were decreased. In this study, calcium carbonate (CaCO_3) and vetiver grass fiber were used as fillers in PLA/NR blend. With the addition of CaCO_3 into PLA/NR blend with NR-g-GMA, impact strength and modulus of the composite were further increased with a loss in tensile strength. In contrast, the addition of vetiver grass fiber into PLA/NR blend with NR-g-GMA led to an increase in tensile strength and modulus and a decrease in impact strength and elongation at break. The onset degradation temperatures of PLA composites were lower than that of PLA and PLA/NR blend.