Non-isothermal crystallization behavior of PLA/LLDPE/nanoclay hybrid: Synergistic role of LLDPE and clay

The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) in presence of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and two different commercial-grade nanoclays, Cloisite 30B and Cloisite® 15A at different conditions were investigated using DSC and WAXS. The results showed that crystallization of neat PLA was very difficult from the melt in the non-isothermal quenching process and presence of nanoclays only improved the crystallization of PLA during heating. LLDPE as an efficient plasticizer enhanced the mobility of PLA chain segments, which led to the increased crystallization rate during heating. In PLA/LLDPE/clay hybrid, PLA component could crystallize only during heating and a fractionated crystallization of LLDPE was occurred during cooling. Cloisite® 15A as a good nucleating agent and LLDPE as an efficient plasticizer promoted the crystallization of PLA in a certain degree indicating the synergistic effects of LLDPE and nanoclays on PLA crystallization particularly at low nanoclays content.