Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterization of PLA/Chitosan/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/chitosan (CS) natural polymer/epoxidised natural rubber (ENR) composites were successfully prepared through a solution casting method. The morphological characteristics of fabricated composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. T...

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Main Authors: Zainoha Zakaria, Md. Saiful Islam, Azman Hassan, M. K. Mohamad Haafiz, Reza Arjmandi, I. M. Inuwa, M. Hasan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/629092
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author Zainoha Zakaria
Md. Saiful Islam
Azman Hassan
M. K. Mohamad Haafiz
Reza Arjmandi
I. M. Inuwa
M. Hasan
author_facet Zainoha Zakaria
Md. Saiful Islam
Azman Hassan
M. K. Mohamad Haafiz
Reza Arjmandi
I. M. Inuwa
M. Hasan
author_sort Zainoha Zakaria
collection DOAJ
description Poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/chitosan (CS) natural polymer/epoxidised natural rubber (ENR) composites were successfully prepared through a solution casting method. The morphological characteristics of fabricated composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. The microstructure of PLA/ENR was significantly altered with the addition of CS. SEM analysis of composites fractured surfaces revealed smooth and homogeneous texture and good dispersion of CS. However for 15 wt% CS composites, the phase segregation and poor adhesion between the polymers were observed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed some levels of attractive interaction between CS, PLA, and ENR in the composites. The mechanical properties of composites in terms of tensile strength and tensile modulus were significantly improved with the addition of CS into the matrix while the percent elongation at break decreased. The tensile strength increased up to 5 wt% CS loading for both PLA/CS and PLA/ENR/CS and thereafter decreased while Young’s modulus increased up to 10 wt%. However, when the CS content was increased to 15 wt%, the tensile strength and tensile modulus were slightly decreased. These improvements were attributed to good dispersion of CS at the optimum filler levels and attractive interaction between the composites components.
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series Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
spelling doaj-art-b27a550151084a899e094e96100fbb2f2025-08-20T03:39:25ZengWileyAdvances in Materials Science and Engineering1687-84341687-84422013-01-01201310.1155/2013/629092629092Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterization of PLA/Chitosan/Epoxidized Natural Rubber CompositesZainoha Zakaria0Md. Saiful Islam1Azman Hassan2M. K. Mohamad Haafiz3Reza Arjmandi4I. M. Inuwa5M. Hasan6Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, MalaysiaDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, MalaysiaDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, MalaysiaDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, MalaysiaDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, MalaysiaPoly (lactic acid) (PLA)/chitosan (CS) natural polymer/epoxidised natural rubber (ENR) composites were successfully prepared through a solution casting method. The morphological characteristics of fabricated composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. The microstructure of PLA/ENR was significantly altered with the addition of CS. SEM analysis of composites fractured surfaces revealed smooth and homogeneous texture and good dispersion of CS. However for 15 wt% CS composites, the phase segregation and poor adhesion between the polymers were observed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed some levels of attractive interaction between CS, PLA, and ENR in the composites. The mechanical properties of composites in terms of tensile strength and tensile modulus were significantly improved with the addition of CS into the matrix while the percent elongation at break decreased. The tensile strength increased up to 5 wt% CS loading for both PLA/CS and PLA/ENR/CS and thereafter decreased while Young’s modulus increased up to 10 wt%. However, when the CS content was increased to 15 wt%, the tensile strength and tensile modulus were slightly decreased. These improvements were attributed to good dispersion of CS at the optimum filler levels and attractive interaction between the composites components.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/629092
spellingShingle Zainoha Zakaria
Md. Saiful Islam
Azman Hassan
M. K. Mohamad Haafiz
Reza Arjmandi
I. M. Inuwa
M. Hasan
Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterization of PLA/Chitosan/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
title Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterization of PLA/Chitosan/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites
title_full Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterization of PLA/Chitosan/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites
title_fullStr Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterization of PLA/Chitosan/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterization of PLA/Chitosan/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites
title_short Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterization of PLA/Chitosan/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites
title_sort mechanical properties and morphological characterization of pla chitosan epoxidized natural rubber composites
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/629092
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