Mechanical and Thermal Characteristics of Bio-Nano composites Consisting of Poly-L-lactic Acid and Self-Assembling Siloxane Nanoparticles with Three Phases

Bio polymer nano composites (bio-nano composite) consisting of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and siloxane nanoparticles with three phases, a high-density siloxane phase (plural cores), an elastomeric silicone phase, and a caprolactone oligomer phase, were developed to increase the mechanical properties of PLLA. The nanoparticles, average size of 13?nm, were self-assembled by aggregation and condensation of an organo siloxane with three units: isocyanatepropyltrimethoxysilane (IPTS), polymethylpropyloxysiloxane (PMPS), and a caprolactone oligomer (CLO), which form each phase. The bio-nano composite was produced using PLLA and the nanoparticles. Bending and tensile testing showed that the use of these nanoparticles (5 wt% in PLLA) greatly increases the tenacity (breaking strain) of PLLA while maintaining its relatively high breaking (maximum) strength. The elongation of the nano composite was more than twice that of PLLA while the elasticity modulus and breaking (maximum) strength were comparable to those of PLLA. The nanoparticles also increased the impact strength of PLLA. The use of the nanoparticles almost did not show adverse affect on the thermal resistance of PLLA. The nano composite heat resistance indicated by the glass transition temperature and heat distortion temperature was fairly kept. The decomposition temperature of the nano composite somewhat increased.