Paper Number
SM17 

Session
Polymer Solutions and Melts

Title
Rheological study of crystallization behavior of PLA and PLA-reinforced flax fiber biocomposites

Presentation Date and Time
October 7, 2014 (Tuesday) 10:25

Track / Room
Track 3 / Commonwealth C

Authors (Click on name to view author profile)

1. Arias, Andrea M. (Polytechnique Montreal, Chemical Engineering Department)
2. Heuzey, Marie-Claude (École Polytechnique de Montréal, Chemical Engineering)
3. Wood-Adams, Paula M. (Concordia University, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering)

Author and Affiliation Lines (in printed abstract book)
Andrea M. Arias¹, Marie-Claude Heuzey¹, and Paula M. Wood-Adams^2
1Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3N2N2, Canada; ²Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada

Speaker / Presenter 
Arias, Andrea M.

Text of Abstract
In this work, the behavior of compounded polylactide (PLA) and polylactide-based flax fiber biocomposites under quiescent crystallization was investigated by means of small amplitude oscillatory shear experiments under isothermal conditions. In addition, the effect of shear flow on PLA crystallization was studied by performing a shearing step prior to SAOS tests. The rheological results, carried out in parallel plate flow geometry, were performed at temperatures varying from 110 to 140 ºC in the case of quiescent conditions, and at 140 ºC for shear flow-induced crystallization studies. Rheological measurements began one minute after reaching the set crystallization temperature. Time-temperature superposition principle and Arrhenius equation were employed to predict the initial viscosity for all systems; results were found to be very accurate to experimental values, particularly at lower crystallization rates. A simple empirical model was used to determine the induction time of experiments in a wide range of supercooling degrees. Experimental issues associated to such measurements are pointed out and the key parameters ensuring reproducible and accurate data are discussed. The complete understanding of crystallization for PLA systems by means of rheometry for both, quiescent and flow-induced conditions, remains challenging with the current state of art.