PROCESSING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBON NANOTUBE / POLYLACTIC ACID NANOCOMPOSITE FILMS
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2015 International Committee on Composite Materials. All rights reserved. Carbon nanotube (CNT) / polylactic acid (PLA) composite films were fabricated via two methods: 1) melt compounding and melt fiber spinning followed by compression molding (MC-CM) and 2) solution compounding and electrospinning followed by compression molding (E-CM). The effect of the two processing methods on the morphology, crystallization behaviour, thermo-mechanical behaviour, and electrical response of the fibers and films was examined. With CNT's superior conductivity, PLA's conductivity can be enhanced, making it a biodegradable alternative to current conductive films made of petroleum based polymers for static dissipation applications. Melt spun and electrospun fiber morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystallinity and crystal structure was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thermo-mechanical properties of the films was examined using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Finally, electrical properties were investigated using impedance spectroscopy (IS). The melt spun fibers had a larger average fiber diameter compared to the electrospun fibers which may influence the distribution and dispersion of the CNT throughout the matrix. However, the crystallization behaviour of the films were comparable both in terms of crystallinity content (%) and average lamella thickness. The storage modulus of the films increased with the addition of CNT into the PLA matrix due to the CNT hindering polymer chain mobility. Finally, the films became conductive at low CNT concentrations. The films were percolated at less than 1wt% CNT for the E-CM films and less than 3wt% CNT for the MC-CM films.
