Pinpoint Loading Examinations of Poly(lactic acid) Biopolymers

Luca Kotrocz; Péter Bakonyi

doi:10.14513/actatechjaur.v11.n4.480

Authors

Luca Kotrocz Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Polymer Engineering, Műegyetem rkp. 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
Péter Bakonyi Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Polymer Engineering, Műegyetem rkp. 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14513/actatechjaur.v11.n4.480

Keywords:

poly(lactic acid), biopolymer, pinpoint load, Vickers indentation, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

Abstract

We have made a new mounting unit for Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) equipment, suitable for measuring microhardness and indentation, and examined its usability on thermoplastic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) material. We used a Vickers-type microhardness indenter, and examined the dimensions of the indented area and the loading force. This novel unit is suitable for measuring the short and long-term behavior of the material using pinpoint load not only at room temperature (20-23 °C) – like common hardness tests – but at a wide range of temperatures.