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Solid and Microcellular Polylactide-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

  • S. Pilla , A. Kramschuster , S. Gong , A. Chandra and L.-S. Turng
Published/Copyright: April 6, 2013
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International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 22 Issue 5

Abstract

In this study, polylactide (PLA)-multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites were melt-compounded using a twin-screw extruder. Solid and microcellular tensile bar specimens were produced via conventional and microcellular injection molding, respectively. Various characterization techniques were applied to study the static and dynamic mechanical properties, degree of MWCNT dispersion, cell morphology, and crystallization behavior. The addition of a small amount of MWCNTs led to a decrease in the cell size and an increase in the cell density of the microcellular PLA specimens. A transmission electron microscopy analysis of the PLA-MWCNT specimens revealed a higher degree of MWCNT dispersion in the microcellular PLA-MWCNT composite compared with its solid counterpart, indicating that the microcellular injection molding process further dispersed the MWCNTs. For both solid and microcellular specimens, the addition of 1.5 wt% MWCNTs reduced the specific strength, specific toughness and strain-at-break while exerting less impact on the specific modulus. The storage modulus was not affected significantly with the addition of MWCNTs, but was found to be higher for the microcellular specimens compared with their solid counterparts. Finally, the crystallinity of PLA increased with the addition of MWCNTs.

∗ Mail address: Shaoqin Gong, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA. E-mail: , Lih-Sheng Turng, Polymer Engineering Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. E-mail:

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Received: 2007-5-7
Accepted: 2007-8-20
Published Online: 2013-04-06
Published in Print: 2007-12-01

© 2007, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Special Issue on Biobased Polymers
  5. Invited Papers
  6. Crystallization and Mechanical Propertiesof Poly (D, L) Lactide-based Blown Films
  7. Rheological Behavior and Modeling of Thermal Degradation of Poly(∊-Caprolactone) and Poly(L-Lactide)
  8. Rheological Evaluation and Observations of Extrusion Instabilities of Biodegradable Polyesters
  9. Biaxial Orientation of Polylactide/Thermoplastic Starch Blends
  10. Effects of Starch Types on Mechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Starch Composites
  11. Solid and Microcellular Polylactide-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites
  12. Tapioca Starch-poly (lactic acid)-based Nanocomposite Foams as Affected by Type of Nanoclay
  13. Injection Molded Solid and Microcellular Polylactide Compounded with Recycled Paper Shopping Bag Fibers
  14. Fabrication of Porous 3-D Structure from Poly(L-lactide)-based Nanocomposite Foam via Enzymatic Degradation
  15. The Linear Viscoelastic Behavior of a Series of 3-Hydroxybutyrate-based Copolymers
  16. New Developments in Biodegradable Starch-based Nanocomposites
  17. Viscous Properties of Thermoplastic Starches from Different Botanical Origin
  18. Thermoplastic Foams from Zein and Gelatin
  19. Improvement of the Mechanical Properties of Soy Protein Isolate Based Plastics through Formulation and Processing
  20. Biocomposites Based on Bacterial Cellulose and Apple and Radish Pulp
  21. Preparation and Properties of Metallocene-catalyzed PE/Starch Nanocomposites: Role of Nanocompatibilizer
  22. Evaluation of Properties and Biodeterioration Potential of Polyethylene and Aliphatic Polyester Blends
  23. PPS News
  24. PPP News
  25. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
  26. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
https://doi.org/10.3139/217.2071

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Special Issue on Biobased Polymers
  5. Invited Papers
  6. Crystallization and Mechanical Propertiesof Poly (D, L) Lactide-based Blown Films
  7. Rheological Behavior and Modeling of Thermal Degradation of Poly(∊-Caprolactone) and Poly(L-Lactide)
  8. Rheological Evaluation and Observations of Extrusion Instabilities of Biodegradable Polyesters
  9. Biaxial Orientation of Polylactide/Thermoplastic Starch Blends
  10. Effects of Starch Types on Mechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Starch Composites
  11. Solid and Microcellular Polylactide-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites
  12. Tapioca Starch-poly (lactic acid)-based Nanocomposite Foams as Affected by Type of Nanoclay
  13. Injection Molded Solid and Microcellular Polylactide Compounded with Recycled Paper Shopping Bag Fibers
  14. Fabrication of Porous 3-D Structure from Poly(L-lactide)-based Nanocomposite Foam via Enzymatic Degradation
  15. The Linear Viscoelastic Behavior of a Series of 3-Hydroxybutyrate-based Copolymers
  16. New Developments in Biodegradable Starch-based Nanocomposites
  17. Viscous Properties of Thermoplastic Starches from Different Botanical Origin
  18. Thermoplastic Foams from Zein and Gelatin
  19. Improvement of the Mechanical Properties of Soy Protein Isolate Based Plastics through Formulation and Processing
  20. Biocomposites Based on Bacterial Cellulose and Apple and Radish Pulp
  21. Preparation and Properties of Metallocene-catalyzed PE/Starch Nanocomposites: Role of Nanocompatibilizer
  22. Evaluation of Properties and Biodeterioration Potential of Polyethylene and Aliphatic Polyester Blends
  23. PPS News
  24. PPP News
  25. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
  26. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
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