Effect of ESO on Mechanical Properties and Morphologies of PLA/CaCO₃/ESO Composites

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic, has attracted attention as an alternative material to conventional plastics, but it suffers from low flexibility and impact resistance. This paper has explained the change of mechanical properties and morphologies of PLA by filling epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), a plant-derived plasticizer, and nano-calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO₃) a high-stiffness filler, to PLA. As a result, PLA increased its fracture strain by up to 180% while maintaining its stiffness and improved its flexibility.