Rheology and biodegradation of polylactide/silica nanocomposites

Silica-filled polylactide (PLA) nanocomposites were prepared by melt compounding. The oscillatory rheological properties and biodegradation behavior were then investigated. As the silica loadings reach up to 5 wt%, percolated silica network structures form. For the percolated PLA/silica nanocomposites sample (the silica content was >5 wt%), the modulus enhances with an increase of temperature evidently. Moreover, it is interesting to find that the biodegradation rates have been enhanced obviously in the PLA/silica nanocomposites than in neat PLA. The erosion mechanism of neat PLA and the PLA/silica nanocomposites was further discussed. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. (c) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers