Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer which has a wide range of applications; in this work, all PLA based composites formulations were compounded by twin screw extruder and testing specimens were produced. This article focuses on determinations of mechanical, antibacterial, thermal and barrier properties of PLA composites. It was found that only the tensile modulus of PLA composites increased while the others decreased when 10% wood was loaded. The effect of Triclosan and Cloisite® 30B compounding did not change the mechanical properties and glass transition temperature. However, by the presence of wood and Cloisite® 30B, Tm values of the composites exhibited double peak characteristic which was related to an increase in crystallinity level. Antibacterial activity of the PLA composites was improved with the Cloisite® 30B content, and this was attributed to cationic bactericide quaternary ammonium group between the silicates layers. Hydrophobic material Triclosan obviously changed water vapor permeability (WVP) of the PLA from 8.24 × 10−11 to at 7.26 × 10−11 g.mm/mm2.h.Pa for triclosan/PLA specimens. All PLA composites samples with 0.5% clay content showed a significant increase in oxygen barrier property.