Influence of Diatomaceous Earth Particle Size on Mechanical Properties of PLA/Diatomaceous Earth Composites.

ABSTRACT: The fractionation of diatomaceous earth (DE) using sedimentation made it possible to obtain separate unbroken diatom fractions from broken or agglomerated bodies with a range of particle sizes. The produced filler was used to prepare polylactide (PLA)/diatomaceous earth biocomposite samples containing different particle sizes, which were subjected to mechanical testing (tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength), colloidal testing (contact angle, color change test, SEM/EDS), and thermal testing (TGA, DSC, DMA). Modification of the PLA containing the smallest particle size with diatomaceous earth (Fraction 5) resulted in a higher impact strength compared to both the pure PLA and the PLA/DE composite that contained base diatomaceous earth. Furthermore, the melt flow rate was impro

SUBMITTER: Dobrosielska M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9145730 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature