Pushing the Limits of PLA: Exploring the Power of MWCNTs in Enhancing Thermal, Mechanical Properties, and Weathering Resistance

Abstract

The present study focuses on the enhancement of the mechanical, thermal, and degradation behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) by the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different concentrations of 0.5, 1, 3, and 5%. The CNTs were prepared using catalytic chemical vapor deposition, and the prepared PLA/CNTs nanocomposite films were characterized using various techniques such as FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, TGA, TEM, SEM, and XRD. The XRD results indicated an increase in PLA crystallinity with increasing CNT loading. The mechanical tests showed that the incorporation of CNTs had a positive effect on the elongation at break but decreased the ultimate tensile strength of PLA. The thermal gravimetric analysis showed that the prepared nanocomposites were more thermally stable than pure PLA. The accelerated weathering test results revealed that the surface degradation of the nanocomposites decreased with increasing CNT loading, indicating improved weathering resistance. Overall, the results demonstrate that the addition of conductive CNTs to PLA creates a robust mechanical effect on the PLA matrix and enhances its stability.