Structural changes in Poly(lactic acid)-zeolite nanocomposites exposed to Co-60 gamma rays


YILDIRIM Y., ORAL A.

RADIATION EFFECTS AND DEFECTS IN SOLIDS, vol.173, pp.435-445, 2018 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites containing 3%, 5% and 7% zeolite used in the present research study were prepared by solution casting. The PLA nanocomposites were structurally characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of the gamma radiation at the absorbed doses of 10, 15 and 20kGy on the structures and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were investigated in a tetrahydrofuran solvent. Thermodecomposition tests and analyses were carried within 30-500 degrees C range at the rate of 10 degrees Cmin(-1) by thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The activation energies for thermal degradation of the nanocomposites were calculated from their TG data by Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. The G values of the nanocomposites were calculated based on molecular weights which were measured by means of gel permeation chromatography before and after the gamma irradiation. The E-a and molecular weight results showed that addition of zeolite to the PLA affected the radiation resistance of the polymer.