Effect of MWCNTs on MWCNTs/Poly(L-lactide)/Poly(e-caprolactone) biodegradable nanocomposites

The physical and mechanical properties of Poly(L-lactide)/Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLLA/PCL) blends reinforced with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated. The samples with various contents of each component were prepared by solution casting. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of MWCNTs/PLA/PCL composites shows that the melting temperature of composites was increased with increasing the MWCNTs content in composites. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of prepared composites shows there is a significant increase in PCL crystallization in composites with increment in concentration of MWCNTs. The tensile tests results show that the tensile modulus and tensile strength are significantly increased with increasing the amounts of MWCNTs in composites. The mechanical behavior of composites shows large strain after yielding and high elastic strain characteristics. The crystallinity of blend was increased with increasing the concentration of MWCNTs in composites.

Keywords:

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes , Biodegradable polymers , Poly (L-lactide) , Poly (ε-caprolactone) , Nanocomposites ,