Degradation behaviour of plasticized PLA/CNTs nanocomposites prepared by the different technique of blending

Abstract

The present research goals to investigate how the preparation technique became the factor to develop materials with a good combination of properties and optimum degradation ability. PLA/CNTs nanocomposites were prepared via melt blending and solution blending that were involved of unmodified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and modified CNTs (mCNTs) at 1.5 wt.% loading. The surface morphology of nanocomposites was viewed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The effect of 5 wt.% poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) as plasticizer on nanocomposites were determined. The weight loss in soil degradation study was run for 6 months. The morphology study by FESEM confirmed the finding through the existence of a smooth fracture surface especially when PEG was loaded. In soil degradation analysis, neat PLA exhibited a low weight loss rate after 6 months. The maximum weight loss for both techniques was shown by PLA/PEG/CNTs from melt blending technique and PLA/PEG/mCNTs from solution blending, believed from the pore occurred bring to poor properties.