Isothermal cold crystallization kinetics of borassus powder/poly(lactic acid) biocomposites. Issue 1 (3rd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marathe, Yogesh Nana; Ramesh, Chellaswamy; Badiger, Manohar Virupax
• Is Part Of: Polymer crystallization. Volume 3:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-01-03
• Subjects: borassus -- cold crystallization -- composites -- nucleating agents -- poly(lactic acid); Crystalline polymers -- Periodicals; Crystallization -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/pcr2.10097
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2573-7619

Abstract

Abstract: Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is an important bioplastic which is semicrystalline with very slow crystallization rate. Therefore, the processed PLA products are usually amorphous and transparent with low mechanical properties. Currently, research efforts are focused on enhancing the crystallization rate of PLA. In this work, natural borassus fibers are incorporated into PLA and the isothermal cold crystallization kinetics is investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and Avrami equation. The isothermal cold crystallization studies revealed that, the relative crystallinity increases with the increasing content of borassus. The Avrami exponent " n " was determined ~2.0 indicated the one‐dimensional crystal growth with rod‐like geometry. The overall crystallization rate increased due to the borassus content and was expressed by crystallization halftime ( t 1/2 ). This study clearly showed that borassus fibers act as nucleating agent. Abstract : Borassus fiber powder showed significant effect as a nucleating agent for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) crystallization. It can be used as biobased nucleating agent for PLA biocomposites. Borassus/PLA composite showed faster rate of crystallization compare to neat PLA. Rate of crystallization was significantly higher at 85°C than at other isothermal temperatures.