EFFECT OF CARBON NANOTUBES ON CRYSTALLINITY OF POLY L-LACTIDE BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER

Biodegradable polymers are gaining more and more attention because they can be degraded in the environment by the action of naturally occurring microorganisms. Reinforcing of biodegradable polymers using nanomaterials can be an approach to overcoming some limitations of single applications of these materials, such as brittleness, low stiffness, and low toughness.The poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) biocompatible and biodegradable polymer was reinforced with Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to overcome on insufficient mechanical properties of this polymer for high load bearing applications. The effect of MWCNTs on crystallinity and spherulites growth of PLLA was studied. The results show that the MWCNTs increase the crytallinity of PLLA. It is found that the MWCNTs as heterogeneous nucleation points increase the crystallinity of PLLA.

Keywords:

Poly (L-lactide) , Carbon nanotubes , Nanocomposites , Crystallinity , Spherulites