Viscoelastic Properties and Thermal Stability of Nanohydroxyapatite Reinforced Poly-Lactic Acid for Load Bearing Applications
Feven Mattews Michael,
Mohammad Khalid,
Gunasunderi Raju,
Chantara Thevy Ratnam,
Rashmi Walvekar,
Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak
Affiliations
Feven Mattews Michael
Department of Chemistry, Alfaisal University, P.O. Box 50927, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Khalid
Graphene & Advanced 2D Materials Research Group (GAMRG), School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Malaysia
Gunasunderi Raju
Graphene & Advanced 2D Materials Research Group (GAMRG), School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Malaysia
Chantara Thevy Ratnam
Radiation Processing Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Kajang 43000, Malaysia
Rashmi Walvekar
Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia, Jalan Sunsuria, Bandar Sunsuria, Sepang 43900, Malaysia
Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak
Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Miri 98009, Malaysia
We studied the reinforcing effects of treated and untreated nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) on poly-lactic acid (PLA). The NHA surface was treated with three different types of chemicals; 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyethylenimine (PEI). The nanocomposite samples were prepared using melt mixing techniques by blending 5 wt% untreated NHA and 5 wt% surface-treated NHA (mNHA). Based on the FESEM images, the interfacial adhesion between the mNHA filler and PLA matrix was improved upon surface treatment in the order of mNHA (APTES) > mNHA (SDS) > mNHA (PEI). As a result, the PLA-5wt%mNHA (APTES) nanocomposite showed increased viscoelastic properties such as storage modulus, damping parameter, and creep permanent deformation compared to pure PLA. Similarly, PLA-5wt%mNHA (APTES) thermal properties improved, attaining higher Tc and Tm than pure PLA, reflecting the enhanced nucleating effect of the mNHA (APTES) filler.
