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The plasticizer‐assisted formation of a percolating multiwalled carbon nanotube network in biodegradable poly( L ‐lactide)
Author(s) -
Zou Shufen,
Na Bing,
Lv Ruihua,
Pan Huayan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.34658
Subject(s) - materials science , plasticizer , lactide , crystallization , polyethylene glycol , glass transition , rheology , peg ratio , polymer chemistry , polymer , nanotube , carbon nanotube , chemical engineering , composite material , copolymer , finance , economics , engineering
A plasticizer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), was used to disperse multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in biodegradable poly( L ‐lactide) during one‐step melt mixing. Incorporation of PEG significantly promotes the formation of a percolating MWCNT network in the plasticized composites, as revealed by rheological measurements and morphological observations. It, in turn, results in the retarded glass transition and cold crystallization behaviors in these plasticized composites as a result of constrained chain relaxation. It is believed that noncovalent wrapping of MWCNTs by PEG is responsible for the improved affinity between MWCNTs and the poly( L ‐lactide) matrix. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012