The effect of TiO2 on properties of polymer blends based on PLA

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati utjecaj titanijevog dioksida kao nanopunila na svojstva polimernih mješavina PLA/PE-LD 90/10 i PLA/PE-HD 90/10, kao i na svojstva čistih komponenata, tj. čistog polilaktida (PLA), polietilena niske gustoće (PE-LD) i polietilena visoke gustoće (PE-HD). Korištena su tri nanopunila komercijalnih naziva P25 (praškasti TiO2), P25/20 (granulirani TiO2) i PC500 (praškasti TiO2). Uzorci su pripremljeni ekstruzijom te su određena njihova mehanička i toplinska svojstva, ispitana je morfologija uzoraka te su snimljeni FTIR spektri čistih komponenata. Na temelju dobivenih rezultata zaključeno je da punila povoljno utječu na sva mehanička svojstva jedino u slučaju polimerne mješavine PLA/PE-LD 90/10. Punila su poboljšala neka mehanička svojstva čiste komponente PE-LD, dok kod ostalih sustava dodatak nanopunila uzrokuje lošije mehaničko ponašanje u odnosu na nepunjene sustave. Od pripremljenih nanokompozita, najbolja svojstva je u većini slučajeva pokazao onaj koji je pripremljen dodatkom nanopunila P25.The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of titanium dioxide as a nanofiller on the properties of PLA/PE-LD 90/10 and PLA/PE-HD 90/10 polymer blends, as well as on the properties of pure polylactide (PLA), polyethylene low density (PE-LD) and polyethylene high density (PE-HD) components. Three different nanofillers were used – P25 (TiO2 powder), P25/20 (granulated TiO2) and PC500 (TiO2 powder). Samples were prepared by extrusion and their mechanical and thermal properties were investigated, as well as the morphology of the samples. Also, FTIR spectrum of PLA, PE-LD and PE-HD was recorded. Based on the results, it was concluded that fillers can improve mechanical properties of the PLA/PE-LD 90/10 blend. Fillers can also have beneficial effect on some mechanical properties of the pure PE-LD component. As for the rest of the composites, it was observed that the addition of nanofillers causes poorer mechanical behavior compared to unfilled blends and pure components. In most cases, the best properties showed nanocomposites prepared by addition of the P25 filler