Poly-lactic Acid Nano-Composites

Poly(lactic acid), PLA, has one of the high potentials among commercially aliphatic polyesters, particularly for packaging and medical applications, appearing to nearly meet all criteria; it is produced from naturally renewable resources such as potato, sugarcane, corn, starch, etc., it is biodegradable, biocompatible, easy thermal processability and low cost. However, PLA has some deficiencies such as brittleness, low thermal stability and slow crystallization rate limit its wide applications. In this Book we aimed to produce PLA-based nanocomposites, reinforced with wt. % chitosan nanoparticles (CsNP) by melt twin-screw extrusion process. The influence of the CsNP on tensile testing, the thermal and dielectric properties was discussed. The influence of Gama-irradiation on some of physicochemical properties, such as molecular weight, tensile testing, thermal properties of the neat PLA and its composite containing CsNP both as cast films and in chloroform solution was also studied.

Autorentext
Elsawy, Moataz
Dr Moataz Elsawy is a researcher in petrochemical Dept., EgyptianPetroleum research institute (EPRI), PhD. in physical chemistry, Cairo University, Egypt, 2014. His work interest is in material from natural resources: natural polymers, vegetable oils, as green alternative for synthetic material used in industry and in petroleum fields.