• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 2014

Poly(lactic acid)(PLA) nanocomposites containing various nanofillers were synthesized using the solution intercalation method. Organically modified bentonite clay (NSE), octadecylamine-graphene oxide (ODA-GO), and an NSE/ODA-GO complex were utilized as nanofillers in the fabrication of PLA hybrid films. PLA hybrid films with varying nanofiller contents in the range of 0-10 wt% were examined and compared in terms of their thermomechanical properties, morphologies, and oxygen permeabilities. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that most of the NSE and ODA-GO nanofillers were dispersed homogeneously throughout the PLA matrix on the nanoscale, although some agglomerate NSE/ODA-GO complex particles were also formed. Among the three nanofillers for PLA hybrid films, the NSE/ODA-GO complex showed the best improvement in film thermal stability. In contrast, NSE and ODA-GO exhibited the best improvement in tensile mechanical properties and oxygen barrier properties of the PLA hybrid films, respectively.