Polylactide (PLA) is considered as one of the most industrially relevant bio-based polymers because of many desirable characteristics such as that it is completely bio-based and is biodegradable. Despite these advantages, PLA has suffers from several drawbacks which impede its industrial implemtation such as slow crystallization. These drawbacks limit its use particularly in long-lasting applications like automotive, electronics and food packaging. PLA stereocomplexation and the addition of nanoclay are two strategies often used to overcome this drawback.In this work, we propose the use of the �grafting from� approach, via in situ intercalative and metal-free ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide and D-lactide from the surface of a hydroxyl-functionalized organomodified montmorrilonite (i.e., Cloisite 30B) to enhance the dispersion of nanoclay. This approach is combined with the stereocomplexation to enhance the rigidity, thermal and gas-barrier properties of the polyester matrix. In particular, the nanohybrids obteind by 'grafting from' approach were subsequently melt-blended with commercial PLA in order to obtain stereocomplexed PLA-based nanocomposites upon the stereochemistry of the nanohybrids, which were compared with materials without sterocomplexation.By using this approach, an increase of more than 60 % was observed in the Storage modulus of the bio-PDLA nanohybrid with commercial PLLA, as compared with the neat PLA. Moreover, an increase of 40�C was seen in the melting temperature of the nanocomposites. These nanocompsoties also showed a significant improvement in oxygen-barrier properties. These results indicate that these new bio-based materials can find applications in long term packaging applications.Figure 1 - WAXD patterns of melt blended materials and pristine Cloisite30B with d-spacing.

�Grafting from� approach: A tool to improve properties of clay-based stereo-complexed PLA nanocomposites

248th National Meeting (2014)

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