Title
Surface characterization of recycled PLA and its nanocomposite
Authors
KAROL LELUK ANDRZEJ IWANCZUK and MAREK KOZLOWSKI

Published Volume 49 Issue 7-8 July-August
Keywords polylactic acid, organoclay, surface free energy, gloss, colour

Abstract
The impact of recycling on selected properties of polylactic acid (PLA) neat polymer and its composite with montmorillonite was investigated. The changes occurring at the material’s surface were discussed in terms of gloss, colour and surface free energy. The materials were recycled and samples after the 1st, 5th and 10th cycle of processing were investigated. The unprocessed material was treated as a reference one (0 cycle). The results have been related to the physicochemical changes occurring in the materials during recycling.