Effect of Reprocessing on the Viscosity and Mechanical Properties of PLA and PLA/MMT Nanocomposites

Biobased polyester materials and their nanocomposites have gained significance within the field of engineering materials due to their suitability for many industrial uses. As they reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources, they reduce environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sustainability. In addition, biobased polyester has good mechanical and thermal properties, formability, and biodegradation. Consequently, the recycling of these polyester materials has gained a lot of attention lately, as it contributes to resource conservation and reduces waste, the impact on the environment, and energy use. Our study aimed to investigate the physical recyclability of biobased nanocomposites. After multiple extrusion, test specimens made of polylactic acid (PLA) with and without montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared. The viscosity was characterized by a rotational rheometer, DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) was used to examine the crystallinity, and Izod impact tests, 3-point bending, and DMA (dynamic mechanical analysis) were used to measure mechanical characteristics. The results demonstrated that the characteristics of pure PLA and PLA/MMT nanocomposites changed with an increasing number of reprocessings.