Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermo-mechanical properties of MWCNT-g-poly (l-lactide)/poly (l-lactide) nanocomposites

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polymer Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The thermo-mechanical properties of poly (l-lactide) (PLLA) biodegradable polymer reinforced with PLLA grafted from multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-g-PLLA)s are characterized. The crystallinity of PLLA polymer matrix affected by MWCNT-g-PLLAs is illuminated. For this purpose, the PLLA chains are covalently grafted from the sidewall of aminated MWCNTs. Then, the MWCNT-g-PLLAs/PLLA composite films are prepared by solution casting using chloroform as solvent. It is found that the MWCNT-g-PLLAs well dispersed in PLLA matrix. The mechanical properties of PLLA enhanced gradually with the increasing concentrations of MWCNT-g-PLLAs up to 2 wt%. The MWCNT-g-PLLAs increase the glass transition temperature (T g) and melting point of PLLA as revealed by the curves from differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). In addition, the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results show that the T g and Young modulus of PLLA increase with the increment in the concentrations of MWCNT-g-PLLAs. Due to the homogenous dispersion of MWCNT-g-PLLAs and the van der Walls force between grafted PLLA chains on the sidewall of MWCNTs and the PLLA matrix chains, the chain stiffness in amorphous phase of PLLA increases. In addition, the MWCNT-g-PLLAs as heterogeneous nucleation agents increase the crystallinity of PLLA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Iijima S (1991) Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon. Nature 354:56–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Coleman JN, Khan U, Gunko YK (2006) Mechanical reinforcement of polymers using carbon nanotubes. Adv Mater 18:689–706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zeng HL, Gao C, Yan DY (2006) Poly(e-caprolactone)-functionalized carbon nanotubes and their biodegradation properties. Adv Func Mater 16:812–818

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Nabipour Chakoli A, Wan J, Feng JT, Amirian M, Sui JH, Cai W (2009) Functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes for reinforcing of poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) biodegradable copolymers. Appl Surf Sci 256:170–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Tsuji H, Kawashima Y, Takikawa H, Tanaka S (2007) Poly(l-lactide)/nano structured carbon composites: conductivity, thermal properties, crystallization, and biodegradation. Polymer 48:4213–4225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kong KTS, Mariatti M, Rashid AA, Busfield JJC (2012) Effect of processing methods and functional groups on the properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube filled poly(dimethyl siloxane) composites. Polym Bull. doi:10.1007/s00289-012-0777-z

    Google Scholar 

  7. Vuluga Z, Panaitescu DM, Radovicai C, Nicolae C, Iorga MD (2012) Effect of SEBS on morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of PP/organoclay nanocomposites. Polym Bull. doi:10.1007/s00289-012-0780-4

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lu XL, Cai W, Gao ZY, Tagn WJ (2007) Shape memory effects of poly(l-lactide) and its copolymer with poly(ε-caprolactone). Polym Bull 58:381–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Nabipour Chakoli A, Amirian M, Sui JH, Cai W (2012) Enhanced shape memory effect of poly(l-lactide-co-e-caprolactone) biodegradable copolymer reinforced with functionalized MWCNTs. J Polym Res 19:9777–9787

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Amirian M, Nabipour Chakoli A, Sui JH, Cai W (2012) Enhanced mechanical and photoluminescence effect of poly (l-lactide) reinforced with functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Polym Bull 68:1747–1763

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Welsher K, Liu Z, Sherlock SP, Robinson JT, Chen Z, Daranciang D, Dai H (2009) A route to brightly fluorescent carbon nanotubes for near-infrared imaging in mice. Nat Nanotechnol 4:773–780

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Xua Z, Hub PA, Wanga S, Wang XB (2008) Biological functionalization and fluorescent imaging of carbon nanotubes. Appl Surf Sci 254:1915–1918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Liu Z, Tabakman S, Welsher K, Dai HJ (2009) Carbon nanotubes in biology and medicine: in vitro and in vivo detection, imaging and drug delivery. Nano Res 2:85–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ratna D, Karger-Kocsis JJ (2008) Recent advances in shape memory polymers and composites: a review. Mater Sci 43:254–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Pohjonen TP, Helevirta Torm P, Koskikare K, Pati H, Rokkanen P (1997) Strength retention of self-reinforced poly-l-lactide screws. A comparison of compression moulded and machine cut screws. J Mater Sci Mater Med 8:311–320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bootdee K, Nithitanakul M, Grady BP (2012) Synthesis and encapsulation of magnetite nanoparticles in PLGA: effect of amount of PLGA on characteristics of encapsulated nanoparticles. Polym Bull. doi:10.1007/s00289-012-0773-3

    Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang D, Kandadai MA, Cech J, Roth S, Seamus A, Curran SA (2006) Poly(l-lactide) (PLLA)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite: characterization and biocompatibility evaluation. J Phys Chem B 110:12910–12915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jana RN, Cho JW (2008) Thermal stability, crystallization behavior, and phase morphology of poly(ε-caprolactone) diol-grafted-multiwalled carbon nanotubes. J Appl Polym Sci 110:1550–1558

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Nabipour Chakoli A, Amirian M, Sui JH, Cai W (2011) Crystallinity of biodegradable polymers reinforced with functionalized carbon nanotubes. J Polym Res 18:1249–1259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Chen GX, Kim HS, Park BH, Yoon JS (2007) Synthesis of poly(l-lactide)-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes by ring-opening polymerization. Macromol Chem Phys 208:389–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kim HS, Park BH, Yoon JS, Jin H (2007) Thermal and electrical properties of poly(l-lactide)-graft-multiwalled carbon nanotube composites. J Eur Polym Jnl 43:1729–1735

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Saeed K, Park SY (2007) Preparation and properties of multiwalled carbon nanotube/polycaprolactone nanocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci 104:1957–1963

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Amirian M, Nabipour Chakoli A, Sui JH, Cai W (2012) In-vitro degradation of poly(l-lactide)/poly(e-caprolactone) blend reinforced with MWCNTs. Iran Polym J 21:165–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Amirian M, Nabipour Chakoli A, Sui JH, Cai W (2011) Properties and degradation behavior of surface functionalized MWCNT/poly(l-lactide-co-e-caprolactone) biodegradable nanocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci 122:3133–3144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Adeli H, Zein SHS, Tan SH, Akil HM, Ahmad AL (2011) Synthesis, characterization and biodegradation of novel poly(l-lactide)/multi-walled carbon nanotube porous scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Current Nanosci 7:323–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Wick P, Manser P, Limbach LK, Dettlaff-Weglikowska U, Krumeich F, Roth S, Stark WJ, Arie Bruinink A (2007) The degree and kind of agglomeration affect carbon nanotube cytotoxicity. Toxicol Lett 168:121–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wei W, Sethuraman A, Jin C, Monteiro-Riviere NA, Narayan R (2007) Biological properties of carbon nanotubes. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 7:1–14

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work supported by the Excellent Youth Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China (No. JC200715).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 405, 150001, Harbin, People’s Republic of China

    Maryam Amirian, Jie He Sui & Wei Cai

  2. Teachers University, Shahrak Ghods, Niayesh, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Amirian

  3. Agricultural, Medical and Industrial Research School, NSTRI, P.O. Box 31485/498, Karaj, Iran

    Ali Nabipour Chakoli

Authors
  1. Maryam Amirian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ali Nabipour Chakoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jie He Sui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wei Cai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Nabipour Chakoli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Amirian, M., Nabipour Chakoli, A., Sui, J.H. et al. Thermo-mechanical properties of MWCNT-g-poly (l-lactide)/poly (l-lactide) nanocomposites. Polym. Bull. 70, 2741–2754 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-013-0984-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-013-0984-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation