Crystallization effect of poly(L-lactic acid)/silver nanocomposites blends, on barrier and mechanical properties using glyceryl triacetate as plasticizer

Blends of poly(L-lactic acid)/nanoparticle silver and GTA (plasticizer) are present, and the crystallization effect was studied. The effect of the crystallization was investigated by oxygen permeability, isothermal crystallization, and mechanical behavior. Observed properties varied according to the concentration of Ag-NP (0.025–0.1%) dispersed in the continuous phase PLLA. Overall isothermal crystallization rates of the PLLA nanocomposites were higher than those of neat PLLA due to the nucleating effect of the Ag-NP and the enhanced chain mobility caused by the plasticizer (GTA). Ternary blends exhibited an improvement in toughness compared to PLLA alone. Also, the effect is due to the α and αʹ crystals growing up, as observed by XRD. The films exhibited a high barrier of oxygen permeability from 2118 to 18 cc·mm/m 2 ·d, 99% lower than that of PLLA (or 117 times lower), Ag-NP concentration (0.1%) dispersed in the polymer with GTA as a plasticizer.