Structural changes in composite material PLA/CoFe2O4 during the realization of the shape memory effect

The supramolecular structure of polymer composites can be affected by the fabrication method and posttreatments. This study was conducted on a polylactide/1% cobalt ferrite composite material to demonstrate the structure evolution of extruded and casted samples during shape memory effect realization and annealing. The influence of the sample preparation method on the supramolecular structure of composite was proven, as was the possibility of altering the initial structure by annealing and deformation. The structural and phase changes were analyzed using DSC, XRD, and microscopy techniques. This enabled the visualization of structural elements such as spherulites, cavitation, and crazing in polylactide-based composite material.