Selective Localization of Nanofiller on Mechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(butylene adipate- co-terephthalate) Nanocomposites via the Surface Energy and Melt Blending Technique

The dispersion and localization of nanofillers at the interface in immiscible polymer blends to prevent phase separation and voids are the most important factors for fabricating nanocomposites with outstanding mechanical properties. However, these factors are limited to conventional industrial applications, such as melt blending and extrusion due to the aggregation/agglomeration of the nanofillers during processing. Here, the effects of the melt blending technique and nanofiller surface energy on dispersion and selective localization of the nanofillers in poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) nanocomposite were studied. Consequently, we confirmed that the localization of modified silica (m-SiO₂) in the nanocomposite could be determined by controlling the PBAT mixing time. Furthermore, the m-SiO₂, located at the PLA/PBAT interface with modified cellulose nanofiber, improved the morphology of the PLA/PBAT nanocomposites, thereby significantly improving the tensile strength and elongation at break by approximately 7% and 16%, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate a novel approach to control the dispersion and localization of nanofillers in immiscible polymer blends, thereby paving a new possibility to fabricate eco-friendly packaging materials industrially.