Enhanced Thermal Stability and Mechanical Properties of PLA Nanocomposites Reinforced by Surface Modified Halloysite Nanotubes

초록

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a widely used biodegradable polymer due to its non-toxicity, good processability, and remarkable properties although its low thermal stability restricts high-temperature applications. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with a hollow tubular structure and high aspect ratio have been investigated as effective fillers to enhance polymer performance. In this study, surface-modified HNTs were incorporated into PLA via in situ polymerization to prepare PLA/HNT nanocomposites with 0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 wt% loadings. FT-IR spectra indicated the formation of hydrogen bonding between PLA and HNT, while SEM images confirmed homogeneous dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion. Thermal analyses revealed that the incorporation of even a small amount of HNT (3-5 wt%) effectively enhanced the thermal stability of PLA/HNT nanocomposites, increasing its degradation temperature by approximately 10 degrees C. Among them, 5 wt% HNT provided the optimal combination of enhanced thermal stability and mechanical performance without significant loss in tensile strength. These results suggest that surface-modified PLA/HNT nanocomposites offer improved heat resistance and processing stability, making them promising candidates for advanced packaging, electronic, and biomedical applications.

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