An organic-inorganic composite of poly(lactic acid), PLA, and magnesium aluminum stearate-intercalated layered double hydroxide, Mg Al LDH-St, has been produced by in-situ bulk polymerisation of l,d lactide monomer using Mg Al LDH-St as initiator without the use of a metal octoate catalyst or solvent. A polymer mass yield of 88% has been determined for the polymerization.In this work we investigate the feasibility of formation of PLA by ring-opening bulk polymerisation catalysed principally and directly by layered double hydroxide. This is thought to occur by a co-ordination insertion mechanism without conventional metal salt initiator. Also, microscopic images of extract residues reveal an insoluble gel fraction within the composite suggesting cohesive crosslinking between PLA and Mg Al LDH-St.In future it is intended to more fully characterise the integration between polymer and clay in terms of chemical bonding and molecular mass distribution as well as determining mechanical properties .

Characterization of green poly(lactic acid)-layered double hydroxide system having both linear and crosslinked polymer structure

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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