Effect of ZnO, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ Doped on Morphological, Optical, Structural and Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid

Abstract

In this study, an experimental investigation of the effect of addition of Alumina (Al2O3), Zinc Oxide (ZnO), and Silicon Oxide (SiO2) particles powders on the mechanical behavior and crystallinity of the PLA films was carried. Granulated of Polylactic acid (PLA) and ceramic powders with different concentrations were prepared to form PLA/ZnO and PLA/ZnO-SiO2-Al2O3composites films using a solvent casting process. Morphology of PLA and composite films were examined by optical microscopy, chemical and crystal structures of composites are analyzed by (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and XRD techniques. Tensile strength and young modulus are determined by traction test. The obtained result by optical microscopy shows the micrograph of PLA samples with different composition are evenly distributed on the film surface. The intensity of the absorption band located at 754 cm-1which correspond to the crystalline phase of PLA is verified by the ATR-FTIR characterization. The XRD diffraction shows that the ceramic particles influence on the peaks intensity of PLA films localized at 19.5 ° C and 22.5 ° C, which indicate an augmentation in the crystallinity of the composite films. Mechanical tests show Tensile strength and Elasticity modulus are improved after the addition of Oxide Particles to Polylactic acid films.