Mngomezulu, MELuyt, ASMathew, Maya J2019-08-262019-08-262017-12Mngomezulu, M.E., Luyt,. A.S. and Mathew, M.J. 2017. Morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/expandable graphite (PLA/EG) flame retardant composites. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, V32(1), pp 89-107.0892-70571530-7980https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0892705717744830http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11103Copyright: 2017 SAGE. Due to copyright restrictions, the attached PDF file only contains the abstract of the full text item. For access to the full text item, kindly consult the publisher's website.This work reports on the effect of expandable graphite (EG) on the morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of flame retardant poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/EG composites. The composites were prepared by melt-mixing and their structure, morphology, melting and crystallization behaviour, as well as their dynamic mechanical properties, were investigated. It was found that graphite layers still existed in an aggregate structure with poor filler dispersion resulting in a lack of interfacial adhesion between EG and the PLA matrix. The presence of EG did not favour the crystallization of PLA, increased the glass transition temperature and showed a reduction in the crystallinity of the composites. The composites with higher filler contents showed enhanced storage and loss moduli. The glass transition temperatures from the loss modulus and damping factor curves varied inconsistently with EG content. The use of commercial EG as filler in PLA can preserve the thermal properties of injection moulding grade Cereplast PLA.enPoly(lactic acid)Electron microscopyExpandable graphiteThermal propertiesArticleMngomezulu, M., Luyt, A., & Mathew, M. J. (2017). Morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/expandable graphite (PLA/EG) flame retardant composites. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11103Mngomezulu, ME, AS Luyt, and Maya J Mathew "Morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/expandable graphite (PLA/EG) flame retardant composites." (2017) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11103Mngomezulu M, Luyt A, Mathew MJ. Morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/expandable graphite (PLA/EG) flame retardant composites. 2017; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11103.TY - Article AU - Mngomezulu, ME AU - Luyt, AS AU - Mathew, Maya J AB - This work reports on the effect of expandable graphite (EG) on the morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of flame retardant poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/EG composites. The composites were prepared by melt-mixing and their structure, morphology, melting and crystallization behaviour, as well as their dynamic mechanical properties, were investigated. It was found that graphite layers still existed in an aggregate structure with poor filler dispersion resulting in a lack of interfacial adhesion between EG and the PLA matrix. The presence of EG did not favour the crystallization of PLA, increased the glass transition temperature and showed a reduction in the crystallinity of the composites. The composites with higher filler contents showed enhanced storage and loss moduli. The glass transition temperatures from the loss modulus and damping factor curves varied inconsistently with EG content. The use of commercial EG as filler in PLA can preserve the thermal properties of injection moulding grade Cereplast PLA. DA - 2017-12 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Poly(lactic acid) KW - Electron microscopy KW - Expandable graphite KW - Thermal properties LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2017 SM - 0892-7057 SM - 1530-7980 T1 - Morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/expandable graphite (PLA/EG) flame retardant composites TI - Morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/expandable graphite (PLA/EG) flame retardant composites UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11103 ER -