Enhanced thermal stability, toughness, and electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube-reinforced biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) blend-based nanocomposites

Kartik Behera, Yen Hsiang Chang, Mithilesh Yadav, Fang Chyou Chiu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) was incorporated into the miscible poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PLA/PEO) blend to successfully fabricate biodegradable nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscope images revealed the well dispersion of as-received CNT within the blend through the melt-mixing process. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the CNT significantly improved the thermal stability of the blend (up to 68 °C increase at 3-phr CNT addition compared to the blend at 10 wt% loss) in air. Differential scanning calorimetry data showed the nucleation effect of CNT on the crystallization of individual PLA and PEO; the presence of CNT increased the melting temperature of PLA crystals. Measurement of rheological behavior confirmed the formation of CNT (pseudo-)network structure in the composites. The impact strength of the composite with 3-phr CNT loading was three times higher than that of the blend. The electrical resistivity of the blend reduced by up to nine orders of magnitude at 3-phr CNT loading. The electrical and rheological percolation thresholds were both achieved at 1-phr CNT loading for the nanocomposites.

Original languageEnglish
Article number122002
JournalPolymer
Volume186
DOIs
StatePublished - 09 01 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

  • Blend
  • Electrical property
  • Nanocomposites
  • Poly(lactic acid)
  • Thermal properties

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