The effects of reduced graphene oxide on thermal properties of polylactic acid/ethylene vinyl-acetate copolymer blends

Polylactic acid (PLA)/ethylene vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVA) blend is a polymeric mixture of potential use in packaging industry due to desired biodegradable and mechanical properties. However, it yet does not possess sufficient thermal performance and to mitigate this problem, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoparticles can be well incorporated into the blend for thermal improvement. In this contribution, the effect of rGO presence in various concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 0.8 wt%) on thermal properties of melt mixed PLA/EVA (blend ratio of 75/25) was explored using x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that rGO is adequately dispersed in the blend matrix using the employed preparation method and thermal stability of the blend has been enhanced after rGO incorporation. Also, crystallinity was raised by rGO addition. An increase in rGO content led to an increase in thermal properties.