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Electrospun nylon fibers for the improvement of mechanical properties and for the control of degradation behavior of poly(lactide)-based composites

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Abstract

Poly(lactide) (PLA) composites filled with electrospun nylon 6 fibers were prepared. This allowed us to simultaneously improve the mechanical properties and tune the degradation of the PLA matrix. The interfacial adhesion between the PLA matrix and the nylon fibers was good. The major effect of electrospun fibers on the matrix was that of modifying the semicrystalline framework, thickening the polymer lamellae. This allowed an increase in the mechanical properties of the material, and on the other hand to modify its degradation behavior. The modulus of the composites was increased up to 3-fold with respect to neat PLA. The peculiar morphology of matrix–filler interaction moreover slowed down the degradation rate of the material and improved the dimensional stability of the specimens during the degradation process. This shows the potential of electrospun fibers as a way to tune the durability of PLA-based products, widening the range of application of this promising material.

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Acknowledgment

Ramesh Neppalli is grateful to Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo for the support of his Ph.D. grant. This work was financed by the PRAT project of the University of Padova CPDA099194/09.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy

    Ramesh Neppalli, Carla Marega, Antonio Marigo & Valerio Causin

  2. Department of Textile Engineering, Chonbuk National University, 561-756, Jeonju, Korea

    Madhab P. Bajgai & Suprakas Sinha Ray

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T1Z3

    Madhab P. Bajgai & Hak Y. Kim

  4. DST/CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Valerio Causin

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  1. Ramesh Neppalli
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Neppalli, R., Marega, C., Marigo, A. et al. Electrospun nylon fibers for the improvement of mechanical properties and for the control of degradation behavior of poly(lactide)-based composites. Journal of Materials Research 27, 1399–1409 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2012.70

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