Preparation and properties of poly(lactic acid)/sesbania gum/nano-TiO2 composites

Poly(lactic acid)/sesbania gum/nano-TiO 2 composites were prepared by melt blending in the mixing chamber of a torque rheometer in this work. The processing rheological properties, mechanical properties, morphologies, thermal properties, and optical properties of the resulting composites were evaluated. Effects of nano-TiO 2 content and plasticizer content on the processing rheological properties and mechanical properties of composites were discussed. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs clearly revealed good dispersion of nano-TiO 2 aggregates in the matrix at the low nano-TiO 2 content, while higher content contributed to easy aggregation within the matrix, which was consistent with the results of mechanical properties, thermal properties, and optical properties. As for the processing rheological properties, a reasonable choice of nano-TiO 2 and plasticizer content should be made depending on the used processing equipment and process.