%0 Journal Article
%T Graphene Nanoplatelets as Novel Reinforcement Filler in Poly(lactic acid)/Epoxidized Palm Oil Green Nanocomposites: Mechanical Properties
%A Buong Woei Chieng
%A Nor Azowa Ibrahim
%A Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus
%A Mohd Zobir Hussein
%A V. S. Giita Silverajah
%J International Journal of Molecular Sciences
%D 2012
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/ijms130910920
%X Graphene nanoplatelet (xGnP) was investigated as a novel reinforcement filler in mechanical properties for poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/epoxidized palm oil (EPO) blend. PLA/EPO/xGnP green nanocomposites were successfully prepared by melt blending method. PLA/EPO reinforced with xGnP resulted in an increase of up to 26.5% and 60.6% in the tensile strength and elongation at break of the nanocomposites respectively, compared to PLA/EPO blend. XRD pattern showed the presence of peak around 26.5กใ in PLA/EPO nanocomposites which corresponds to characteristic peak of graphene nanoplatelets. However, incorporation of xGnP has no effect on the flexural strength and modulus. Impact strength of PLA/5 wt% EPO improved by 73.6% with the presence of 0.5 wt% xGnP loading. Mechanical properties of PLA were greatly improved by the addition of a small amount of graphene nanoplatelets ( < 1 wt%).
%K graphene nanoplatelets
%K biodegradable plastic
%K mechanical properties
%U http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/9/10920