Effect of synthetic mica on the thermal properties of poly(lactic acid)

Poly(lactic acid)/Somasif fluoromica nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending and their thermal properties investigated by DSC, TGA and DMA. Three different types of synthetic mica (Somasif ME-100, Somasif MAE and Somasif MPE) were used at different contents (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 wt %). The melt blending of PLA and these micas is characterized by a considerable reduction in the matrix molecular weight, which decreases when the nanofiller content is increased. For all nanocomposites, the thermal stability increases when mica is added to the polymer, with the Somasif MPE, producing the highest increase of the degradation temperature and highest reduction of Tg.