Enhanced magnetic nanoparticles dispersion effect on the behaviour of ultrasonication-assisted compounding processing of PLA/LNR/NiZn nanocomposites
Dalila Shahdan, Moayad Husein Flaifel, Sahrim Haji Ahmad, Shan Chen, Jeefferie Abd Razak
Abstract
In this study, magnetic polymer nanocomposite comprising of polylactide, liquified natural rubber and different loadings of NiZn ferrite nanoparticles was prepared using ultrasonication-assisted melt compounding method. The fabrication process has involved the ultrasonication treatment of the nanocomposite for 1 and 2 h. The influence of ultrasonication on the dispersion degree of the nanoparticles and its reflection on the behaviour of PLA/LNR/NiZn nanocomposites was evaluated. The tensile properties showed an improvement when the nanocomposites were treated for 1 and 2 h, with optimum values obtained at 4 wt% of nanofiller loading. Similarly, the optimum values of Tg, Tc and Tm obtained from DSC analysis were found for sample ultrasonically treated for 1 h with highest crystallinity increment of 55.16% as compared to untreated sample of the same nanofiller loading. Moreover, the statistical analysis based on TGA and SEM results revealed that the nanocomposite treated ultrasonically for 1 h had better nanofiller dispersion as compared to its counterparts with 0 and 2 h treatment periods. These findings, as confirmed by magnetic testing, formed a solid evidence that the optimal behaviour of PLA/LNR/NiZn nanocomposites was attained with ultrasonication treatment of 1 h with potential applications in areas served by soft magnetic materials.