Synergistic Effects of Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Polycaprolactone on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid

Abstract

Because of its biocompatibility and biodegradability poly (lactic acid) (PLA) can be employed in a variety of industries. High brittleness, on the other hand, has been the principal impediment to broadening its uses. In this article multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTS) and polycaprolactone (PCL) were used to toughen PLA, and their effects on the crystallization behavior and mechanical characteristics of PLA are reported. PLA's crystallization behavior was improved by the addition of the MWCNTS and PCL. The MWCNTS had a reinforcing effect for the immiscible PLA/PCL mixes according to stress-strain measurements. The inclusion of the MWCNTS also improved the thermal stability of the PLA/PCL blends according to thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).

Keywords:

• crystallization behavior
• mechanical behavior
• multiwall carbon nanotubes
• polycaprolactone (PCL)
• polylactic acid (PLA)
• thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA)

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the German University in Cairo for allowing them to conduct tensile measurements and to characterize the thermal and optical behavior of PLA samples in its laboratories.