E Bagheri, - MSc student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶-۸۳۱۱۱, Iran
P Mosaddegh, - Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶-۸۳۱۱۱, Iran
T Behzad, - Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶-۸۳۱۱۱, Iran

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/halloysite nanotube (HNT) composite films (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 wt.%) are prepared by melt mixing process followed by compression molding. Investigation of mechanical, thermal, and structural properties of the samples are the main goal of this study. At a concentration of 6 wt.% HNT, the nanocomposite films show 15% rise in tensile strength which is the highest improvement in the trials. The highest elongation at break is obtained at 2 wt.% HNT. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) results show a slight increase in glass transition temperature and decrease in melting enthalpy for the sample containing 6 wt.% HNTs attributed to a good interfacial interaction between PLA and HNT. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) images and X-Ray Diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) patterns are analyzed and the results are in agreement with tensile and DSC results. The load transfer efficiency of the nanocomposites is assessed and discussed by comparing the experimental results with the theoretical modulus and interaction parameter, computed from Halpin-Tsai and Pukanszky micromechanics models.

Nanocomposite, Mechanical properties, Thermal properties, Micromechanics