Effect of nanoclay on optical properties of PLA/clay composite films

H. M. Cele; V. Ojijo; H. Chen; S. Kumar; K. Land; T. Joubert; M. F.R. De Villiers; S. S. Ray

doi:10.1016/j.polymertesting.2014.03.010

Effect of nanoclay on optical properties of PLA/clay composite films

H. M. Cele, V. Ojijo, H. Chen, S. Kumar, K. Land, T. Joubert, M. F.R. De Villiers, S. S. Ray

Chemical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article reports the modification of optical properties of biodegradable/biocompatible polylactide (PLA) using organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) for microcantilever applications. PLA/OMMT composite films with various OMMT loadings (3, 5 and 7 wt%) were prepared using solvent casting. The surface morphology of the PLA/OMMT composites was examined using scanning electron and atomic force microscopes. The morphological results indicated that the surface roughness increases as a function of the clay loading. The optical properties of the PLA/OMMT composites were studied using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) and ultra-violet (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. VASE revealed that the refractive index and extinction coefficient (n and k) positively correlated with the thickness of the film. UV-Vis spectroscopy also demonstrated that the absorption of light by PLA/OMMT composite films positively correlated with the clay content in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. To enhance the reflectivity, PLA/OMMT films were coated with a gold layer.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	24-31
Number of pages	8
Journal	Polymer Testing
Volume	36
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2014.03.010
Publication status	Published - Jun 2014

Keywords

Composites
Ellipsometry
Nanoparticles
Polylactide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Organic Chemistry
Polymers and Plastics

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10.1016/j.polymertesting.2014.03.010

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title = "Effect of nanoclay on optical properties of PLA/clay composite films",

abstract = "This article reports the modification of optical properties of biodegradable/biocompatible polylactide (PLA) using organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) for microcantilever applications. PLA/OMMT composite films with various OMMT loadings (3, 5 and 7 wt%) were prepared using solvent casting. The surface morphology of the PLA/OMMT composites was examined using scanning electron and atomic force microscopes. The morphological results indicated that the surface roughness increases as a function of the clay loading. The optical properties of the PLA/OMMT composites were studied using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) and ultra-violet (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. VASE revealed that the refractive index and extinction coefficient (n and k) positively correlated with the thickness of the film. UV-Vis spectroscopy also demonstrated that the absorption of light by PLA/OMMT composite films positively correlated with the clay content in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. To enhance the reflectivity, PLA/OMMT films were coated with a gold layer.",

keywords = "Composites, Ellipsometry, Nanoparticles, Polylactide",

author = "Cele, {H. M.} and V. Ojijo and H. Chen and S. Kumar and K. Land and T. Joubert and {De Villiers}, {M. F.R.} and Ray, {S. S.}",

year = "2014",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.polymertesting.2014.03.010",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

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journal = "Polymer Testing",

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T1 - Effect of nanoclay on optical properties of PLA/clay composite films

AU - Cele, H. M.

AU - Ojijo, V.

AU - Chen, H.

AU - Kumar, S.

AU - Land, K.

AU - Joubert, T.

AU - De Villiers, M. F.R.

AU - Ray, S. S.

PY - 2014/6

Y1 - 2014/6

N2 - This article reports the modification of optical properties of biodegradable/biocompatible polylactide (PLA) using organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) for microcantilever applications. PLA/OMMT composite films with various OMMT loadings (3, 5 and 7 wt%) were prepared using solvent casting. The surface morphology of the PLA/OMMT composites was examined using scanning electron and atomic force microscopes. The morphological results indicated that the surface roughness increases as a function of the clay loading. The optical properties of the PLA/OMMT composites were studied using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) and ultra-violet (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. VASE revealed that the refractive index and extinction coefficient (n and k) positively correlated with the thickness of the film. UV-Vis spectroscopy also demonstrated that the absorption of light by PLA/OMMT composite films positively correlated with the clay content in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. To enhance the reflectivity, PLA/OMMT films were coated with a gold layer.

AB - This article reports the modification of optical properties of biodegradable/biocompatible polylactide (PLA) using organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) for microcantilever applications. PLA/OMMT composite films with various OMMT loadings (3, 5 and 7 wt%) were prepared using solvent casting. The surface morphology of the PLA/OMMT composites was examined using scanning electron and atomic force microscopes. The morphological results indicated that the surface roughness increases as a function of the clay loading. The optical properties of the PLA/OMMT composites were studied using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) and ultra-violet (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. VASE revealed that the refractive index and extinction coefficient (n and k) positively correlated with the thickness of the film. UV-Vis spectroscopy also demonstrated that the absorption of light by PLA/OMMT composite films positively correlated with the clay content in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. To enhance the reflectivity, PLA/OMMT films were coated with a gold layer.

KW - Composites

KW - Ellipsometry

KW - Nanoparticles

KW - Polylactide

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U2 - 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2014.03.010

DO - 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2014.03.010

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84898627373

SN - 0142-9418

VL - 36

SP - 24

EP - 31

JO - Polymer Testing

JF - Polymer Testing

ER -

Effect of nanoclay on optical properties of PLA/clay composite films

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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