Unique physicochemical and barrier attributes of a biodegradable and sustainable polymer called poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is promising for various applications. Conversely, the issues related to the rigidity and fragility of this polymer that limits its wide usage needs to be inhibited. To surmount these shortcomings, various plasticizers have been incorporated into PLA to soften and make it useful for food packaging. In this research, tributyl citrate (TBC) was inserted as plasticizer into PLA matrix to modify its properties. The impact of varying TBC contents on the morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical behaviour of PLA/TBC composites were evaluated. FESEM images of PLA composites revealed homogeneous fractured surfaces. The crystallinity of PLA/TBC composites was increased with the addition of plasticizer without altering its transparency. The values of the storage modulus and glass transition temperatures, the cold crystallization temperatures as well as the melting temperature.....

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The incorporation of filler and plasticizer provides effective nucleation and mechanical reinforcement in polymer composites to impart flexibility, toughness, thermal stability and tensile strength of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composites that can be used in the development of packaging applications. In this paper, the inclusion of plasticizer and reinforcement of nanofiller in PLA matrix prepared using solvent casting and thermocompression methods aim to improve the thermomechanical properties that consequently alter the crystallization and melting behavior of PLA composites. Plasticized PLA with different percentages of titanium dioxide (TiO2) at 2.0, 3.5, 5.0, and 7.0 % w/w were dispersed in PLA solution using a mechanical mixer and ultrasonication technique to introduce a matrix reinforcing nanophase within the composite. The thermomechanical properties and thermal behavior of PLA nanocomposites were characterized using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calo.....

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