Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13(9), 10920-10934; doi:10.3390/ijms130910920
Article

Graphene Nanoplatelets as Novel Reinforcement Filler in Poly(lactic acid)/Epoxidized Palm Oil Green Nanocomposites: Mechanical Properties

Buong Woei Chieng 1,* email, Nor Azowa Ibrahim 1,* email, Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus 2 email, Mohd Zobir Hussein 1 email and V. S. Giita Silverajah 1 email
1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia 2 Chemistry Department, Center for Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 28 June 2012; in revised form: 26 July 2012 / Accepted: 13 August 2012 / Published: 30 August 2012
(This article belongs to the Section Material Sciences and Nanotechnology)
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Abstract: 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 26.5° 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%).
Keywords: graphene nanoplatelets; biodegradable plastic; mechanical properties

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MDPI and ACS Style

Chieng, B.W.; Ibrahim, N.A.; Wan Yunus, W.M.Z.; Hussein, M.Z.; Silverajah, V.S.G. Graphene Nanoplatelets as Novel Reinforcement Filler in Poly(lactic acid)/Epoxidized Palm Oil Green Nanocomposites: Mechanical Properties. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13, 10920-10934.

AMA Style

Chieng BW, Ibrahim NA, Wan Yunus WMZ, Hussein MZ, Silverajah VSG. Graphene Nanoplatelets as Novel Reinforcement Filler in Poly(lactic acid)/Epoxidized Palm Oil Green Nanocomposites: Mechanical Properties. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2012; 13(9):10920-10934.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chieng, Buong Woei; Ibrahim, Nor Azowa; Wan Yunus, Wan Md Zin; Hussein, Mohd Zobir; Silverajah, V. S. Giita. 2012. "Graphene Nanoplatelets as Novel Reinforcement Filler in Poly(lactic acid)/Epoxidized Palm Oil Green Nanocomposites: Mechanical Properties." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 13, no. 9: 10920-10934.

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