title: Adhesion and micromechanical deformation processes in PLA/CaSO₄ composites.
abstract: PLA/CaSO4 composites were prepared from uncoated and stearic acid coated filler particles in a wide composition range. The strength of interfacial adhesion was estimated quantitatively with three independent methods. Structure was characterized by DSC, XRD and SEM measurements, while mechanical properties by tensile and instrumented impact tests. The results proved that adhesion is twice as strong in composites prepared with the uncoated particles than in those containing the coated filler. Coating changes also local deformation processes around the particles. Although debonding is the dominating micromechanical deformation process in all composites, local plastic deformation is larger around coated particles. The extent of this deformation depends very much also on the local distribution of particles. The final properties and performance of the composites depend unambiguously on the micromechanical deformation processes occurring during loading, on debonding and the subsequent plastic deformation. Stearic acid used for the coating of the filler seems to dissolve in the polymer and locally change its properties.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521 Budapest, P.O. Box 91, Hungary; Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 17, Hungary.
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Imre
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521 Budapest, P.O. Box 91, Hungary; Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 17, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gergely
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keledi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521 Budapest, P.O. Box 91, Hungary; Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 17, Hungary.
authors.forename: Károly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521 Budapest, P.O. Box 91, Hungary; Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 17, Hungary.
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Móczó
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Center of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Materia Nova Research Center, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murariu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Center of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Materia Nova Research Center, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521 Budapest, P.O. Box 91, Hungary; Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 17, Hungary.
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pukánszky