Rigid filler toughening in PLA-Calcium Carbonate composites: Effect of particle surface treatment and matrix plasticization

摘要

In recent years the plastics market is moving towards biopolymers and the increasing demand of not oil derived products has led to the development of new composites deriving from renewable resources. Undoubtedly the most studied biopolymer is poly(lactic acid) (PLA). This work is focused on the use of rigid inorganic fillers as toughening agents, in order to obtain a rigid and tough PLA composite and enlarge the range of applications for PLA. The rigid filler toughening mechanism has been studied and, as toughening agent, commercial calcium carbonate particles with and without surface treatment have been compared. Because of the PLA intrinsic fragility, a plasticization of the matrix was necessary to favor the plastic deformation and consequently the stretching of interparticle ligaments.