Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the crystallization and hydrolytic degradation of biodegradable Poly(L-lactide)

Biodegradable Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWNTS) nanocomposites were prepared via solution blending. Scanning electron microscopy observations reveal a fine dispersion of f-MWNTs in the PLLA matrix. The presence of f-MWNTs enhances the crystallization of PLLA in the nanocomposites compared with that of neat PLLA; moreover, the overall crystallization rate of PLLA increases with increasing the f-MWNTs content in the PLLA matrix. The incorporation of f-MWNTs improves the storage modulus of the PLLA/f-MWNTs nanocomposites, with this effect being more pronounced at lower f-MWNTs content. The exciting aspect of this research is the enhanced hydrolytic degradation of PLLA after nanocomposites preparation with f-MWNTs, which may be of great interest for its wide practical application. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.