Poly(lactic acid)/graphene nanocomposites prepared via solution blending using chloroform as a mutual solvent

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer with growing applications.
• Improving the thermal stability and mechanical properties of PLA is crucial for expanding its use.
• Graphene, a novel carbon allotrope, offers exceptional properties for material enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize poly(lactic acid)/graphene nanocomposites.
• To investigate the effect of graphene on the thermal properties and crystallization behavior of PLA.
• To evaluate the dispersion quality of graphene within the PLA matrix.

Main Methods:

• Direct solution blending of PLA and graphene using chloroform.
• Thermal reduction of graphene for stable dispersion.
• Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for dispersion analysis.
• Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Polar Optical Microscopy (POM) for property evaluation.

Main Results:

• Stable dispersion of graphene in chloroform for over a month.
• Significant improvement in the thermal stability of PLA with low graphene loading.
• Graphene addition markedly influenced the spherulite morphology of PLA.
• TEM confirmed good dispersion of graphene within the PLA matrix.

Conclusions:

• Poly(lactic acid)/graphene nanocomposites can be effectively prepared via solution blending.
• Graphene acts as a potent reinforcing agent, enhancing PLA's thermal stability.
• The morphology and crystallization of PLA are significantly altered by graphene incorporation.