POLYLACTIC ACID-CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING THEM

摘要

The invention relates to polylactic acid-clay nanocomposite havin molecular weight in the range of around 100000 to 200000, crystallinity in the range of around 75% to 100% polydispersivity index in the rangae of around 1.0 to 2.0, onset degradation temperature in the ranfe of around 200 C to 300 C and melting point in the range of around 100 C to 200C. The invention also relates to a A dispersion of polylactic acid prepolymer and clay, capable of a 2 to 7 fold increase in molecular weight, on polymerization in the solid state, the dispersion having a polydispersivity index in the range of around 1.0 to 1.5, molecular weight in the range of around 1,000 to 60,000 preferably in the range of around 20,000 to 50,000 and crystallinity in the range of around 40% to 60%, the clay being present in the range, 0.5% yo 10%, preferably in the range, 1% to 5% by weight, either in the intercalated or exfoliated form.