title: Graphene nanoplatelets as novel reinforcement filler in poly(lactic acid)/epoxidized palm oil green nanocomposites: mechanical properties.
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%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Buong Woei
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8747-4839
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Chieng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Azowa
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Center for Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Md Zin
authors.initials: WMZ
authors.lastname: Wan Yunus
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Zobir
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia.
authors.forename: V S Giita
authors.initials: VSG
authors.lastname: Silverajah
mesh_terms: D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010938:Plant Oils; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D000073878:Palm Oil; D006108:Graphite
keywords: biodegradable plastic; graphene nanoplatelets; mechanical properties