Affiliation:
1. Department of Chemistry, St. Joseph's College (Autonomous) Devagiri Affiliated to University of Calicut Calicut India
2. Chemical Engineering Technology Department, Yanbu Industrial College Royal Commission Yanbu‐Colleges and Institutes (RCYCI) Yanbu Saudi Arabia
3. School of Energy Materials, School of Chemical Sciences and International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam Kerala India
Abstract
AbstractNon‐solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method was employed to fabricate biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposite membranes. Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy revealed that all the membranes prepared display asymmetric structures comprising finger‐like macropores. The incorporation of modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) particles into the PLA matrix resulted in enhanced crystallinity, mechanical, and thermal properties. Annealing of the membranes was performed to explore the influence of temperature on the morphology and properties. After annealing, membranes become more thin and compact, and drastic enhancement in crystallinity is also observed. Consequently, Young's modulus experiences a significant improvement. The reduction in oil absorption capacity after annealing can be attributed to the higher level of crystallinity, reduced porosity, and smaller pore diameter observed in the annealed membranes. Additionally, the unannealed PLA nanocomposite membranes demonstrated exceptional oil absorption capacity, reaching approximately 88%. It is foreseeable that these PLA/POSS nanocomposite membranes possess the potential to be utilized as effective tools for oil–water separation, offering the advantage of mitigating secondary pollution.