PLA Improvement Using Nanocomposite and Plasma Modification

Nikom Rattanarojanakul; Chote Nuangnun; Wichaladda Aunsaart; Tanapat Tirawoot; Somyos Srikhongrak

doi:10.14456/nujst.2023.6

Authors

Nikom Rattanarojanakul Department of Physics and General Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, Chantaburi, 22000, Thailand
Chote Nuangnun Department of Physics and General Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, Chantaburi, 22000, Thailand
Wichaladda Aunsaart Department of Physics and General Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, Chantaburi, 22000, Thailand
Tanapat Tirawoot Department of Physics and General Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, Chantaburi, 22000, Thailand
Somyos Srikhongrak Department of Physics and General Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, Chantaburi, 22000, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/nujst.2023.6

Keywords:

Low-temperature plasmas, PLA modification, Nanocomposite, Plasma modifications, Surface modifications

Abstract

This work studied the effects of Oxygen (O₂), Nitrogen (N₂) and Air plasmas on the surface modification of Polylactic acid (PLA) films. PLA films with 0.01 mm thickness were prepared from pure PLA material, while the PLA nanocomposite was prepared by mixing pure PLA with 5.00 wt.% of Organoclay (Cloisit^® 30B). The plasma discharge was operated by -800 V_DCof applied voltage at 0.1 mbar. The samples were placed on the substrate inside the plasma reactor and exposed to the plasma gases for 10, 15 and 20 min. The results showed that the hydrophobic property of pure PLA film can be increased by O₂ exposure for 10 min and air plasma exposure for 20 min. Whilst the hydrophilic properties of PLA nanocomposite film were elevated when exposed for 20 min to the air and N₂ plasma. In addition, PLA nanocomposite film has slightly higher levels of hydrophilic properties when compared to pure PLA film as evidenced by contact angle measurement. This result implies that low-temperature plasma discharges can successfully improve the surface property of PLA film in a short operating time.

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