Biodegradable Poly(butylene succinate)/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite at Low Carbon Nanotubes Loading: Morphology, Crystallization and Mechanical Property

Abstract

Biodegradable nanocomposite based on poly(butylene succinate) (PBSU) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was prepared by solution blending method at 1 wt% MWNTs loading. Scanning electron microscopic observation illustrates a homogeneous distribution of MWNTs in the PBSU matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy, and wide angle X-ray diffraction were used to study the nonisothermal crystallization, isothermal crystallization kinetics, spherulitic morphology, and crystal structure of neat PBSU and its nanocomposite. The presence of MWNTs enhances the crystallization of PBSU in the nanocomposite due to the heterogeneous nucleation effect while the crystallization mechanism and crystal structure of PBSU do not change. Moreover, the incorporation of a small quantity of MWNTs has improved significantly the mechanical property of PBSU in the nanocomposite compared with that of neat PBSU.