Preparation and properties of PLA/long alkyl chain modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites
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Yeng-Fong Shih
,
Yen-Pin Wang
Abstract
In this investigation, poly(lactic) acid (PLA)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hybrids were prepared using a melt blending process. To increase the compatibility between CNTs and PLA, the surfaces of the CNTs were firstly pretreated in acid solution (HNO3) to functionalize them with carboxylic groups (-COOH). Then, stearyl alcohol was grafted onto carboxylic groups using a dehydrating agent, N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Chemically modified CNTs (CNT-C18) were thus obtained. Therefore, modified carbon nanotubes (CNT-C18) dispersed excellently in organic solvents. PLA/CNTs nanocomposites were prepared by the melt-blending method. Experimental results reveal that the PLA/CNT-C18 nanocomposites that consisted of well-dispersed nanotubes exhibited enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. Adding 4 wt% CNT-C18 to a nanocomposite increased the storage modulus (E′) at 40°C by 17.8%, and the loss modulus (E″) at the glass transition temperature (Tg) by 15.1%. Adding 3 wt% CNT-C18 also reduced the surface resistivity of the PLA nanocomposites from >1016 Ω/cm2to 104 Ω/cm2. Such PLA/CNT-C18 nanocomposites are highly efficient in anti-static agents and can be exploited in the outer coverings of electronic devices.
©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
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Articles in the same Issue
- Publisher’s Note
- A new start for Journal of Polymer Engineering
- News
- Implementing a new manuscript submission system
- Original Articles
- Model for the hydrodynamic dispersion of agglomerates incorporating thermoresponsive additives
- Preparation and properties of PLA/long alkyl chain modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites
- Insights into the slip flow phenomena encountered during in-mold coating (IMC) of plastic parts
- Physical properties of biaxially oriented PA6 film for simultaneous stretching and sequential processing
- Synthesis and solution behaviors of star hydrophobically modified acrylamide copolymers
- Melt temperature learning control of injection molding process based on CMAC neural network
- Numerical analysis of mixing performance of mixing section in pin-barrel single-screw extruder
- New process technology for high volume production of composites
