Super-toughed Poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic Poly(ether)urethane nanofiber composites with in-situ formation of aligned nanofibers prepared by an innovative eccentric rotor extruder

Publication date: Available online 9 November 2018Source: Composites Science and TechnologyAuthor(s): Yue He, Zhi-tao Yang, Jin-ping QuAbstractIn this work, an unprecedented methodology has been proposed to manufacture high-performance polymer composites, that is, a continuously and intensively elongational flow field created by an original and revolutionary eccentric rotor extruder (ERE) is implemented in the whole melting, plasticizing and blending process. Which subverts traditional processing methods of the shear flow field in twin-screw extruder and mixer. A super-toughed poly(lactide acid) (PLA)/thermoplastic poly(ester)urethane (TPU) nanofiber composites, possessing in-situ formed aligned TPU nanofibers (TNFs) and favorable interfacial adhesion, were prepared by the methodology, in which the TNFs could act as effective heterogeneous nucleating sites and elevate extraordinarily notch impact strength. When TPU content reaches to 25 wt%, the notch Izod impact strength reached to 73.5 and 58.3 kJ/m2 for the impact direction parallel and perpendicular to the TNFs, respectively, approximately being 30 and 20 times than that of neat PLA; and the elongation at break reach to 113%, approximately being 12 times. The unique PLA/TPU nanofiber composites manufactured in industrial approach with the novel structure of aligned TNFs is reported for the first time and exhibits prospect for development for miscellaneous functional applications.Graphical abstract

Source: Composites Science and Technology - November 11, 2018 Category: Science Source Type: research