Shape memory performances of homogeneous poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone)/polytrimethylene carbonate-grafted functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposites

Abstract

Biodegradable shape memory polymers (SMPS) have attracted great interest because of their wide application prospects in biomedical field. In this study, PLCL/FGO-g-PTMC nanocomposites were prepared through the simple solution blending of copolymer of L-lactide (LLA) and ε-caprolactone (ε-CL), (PLCL), with acyl chloride functionalized graphene oxide (FGO) grafted with polytrimethylene carbonate (PTMC), (FGO-g-PTMC). The functionalized modification of FGO increases the interaction between FGO and polymer matrix and improves its dispersion in the matrix. FGO was uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix to form a homogeneous system. The appearance of FGO did not change the crystalline structure of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA). However, as a nucleating agent, it can greatly improve the crystallization rate and crystallinity of polymers. The dynamic mechanical behaviors of the obtained nanocomposites are related to the physical crosslinking formed by the entanglement of polymer chains on the surface of FGO. The presence of FGO in PLCL/FGO-g-PTMC nanocomposites strengthens the stationary phase within the matrixes, and significantly improves the modulus and shape recovery ratio of the materials. Nanocomposites with high FGO content exhibit high electrical conductivity and fast shape recovery properties. This kind of intelligent polylactide-based nanocomposites with excellent mechanical properties is expected to be used in the fields of intelligent medicine, tissue engineering and flexible electronics.