Abstract

MURILLO-VARGAS, Fabián; JIMENEZ-VILLALTA, Guillermo; ESQUIVEL-ALFARO, Marianelly  and  VEGA-BAUDRIT, José Roberto. L-polylactic acid (PLA) and multi-walled carbon nano-tubes (CNTMW) with potential industrial applications. Rev.Colomb.Quim. [online]. 2021, vol.50, n.1, pp.20-39.  Epub Apr 09, 2021. ISSN 0120-2804.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rev.colomb.quim.v50n1.89838.

The quality of some polymers to change their final physical and chemical properties by adding nanoparticles to the polymer matrix to produce a composite material (MC) is well known. This research is based on obtaining a MC from polylactic acid (PLA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTMW), widely used in the packaging industry and biomedical devices, in order to expand its industrial profile.

Four mixtures of PLA and CNTMW were developed, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as a plasticizer. Their morphological, thermal, mechanical, thermo-mechanical, spectroscopic, contact angle, and crystallographic properties were evaluated. It was observed that the composites showed thermal degradation at temperatures below the matrix without CNTMW, as well as an increase in the modulus of flexion and tension in some of the samples. Likewise, it was observed that the CNTMW can increase the crystallinity of the material and that, in some cases, its rigidity is increased, acting as a useful additive for applications of greater mechanical stress than the matrix.

From the effect of adding PEG in the composites, the CNTMW do not restrict the mobility of the polymer chains and a plasticizing effect occurs, which allows greater mobility of the amorphous zone of the polymer chains. In general terms, it was concluded that at higher CNTMW contents, better values were generated in the flexural modulus, maximum flexural stress, elongation modulus, maximum load stress and rupture stress, among other evaluated properties.

Keywords : polylactic acid; carbon nanotubes; nanocomposites; nanomaterials; biodegradable polymers.

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