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Published on: May 30, 2017
Poly(lactic acid) Composites Containing Carbon-Based Nanomaterials: A Review
Carolina Gonçalves1, Inês C Gonçalves2,3, Fernão D Magalhães4
1LEPABE-Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal. carol.goncalves8827@gmail.com.
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites are enhanced with carbon-based nanomaterials (CBN) like carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene (GBM) to improve thermo-mechanical and electrical properties for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer, a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.
- PLA finds applications in packaging, textiles, biomedical uses, and automotive composites.
- Enhancing PLA's thermo-mechanical and electrical properties is crucial for expanding its application range.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the production methods and property enhancements of Poly(lactic acid)/Carbon-Based Nanomaterial (PLA/CBN) composites.
- To focus on the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene-based materials (GBM) as nanofillers in PLA.
- To discuss the impact of CBN incorporation on PLA's mechanical, thermal, electrical, and biological characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Compilation and review of existing research on PLA/CBN composites.
- Analysis of various production techniques for incorporating CBN into PLA matrices.
- Evaluation of property changes in PLA composites based on the type and loading of CBN.
Main Results:
- Carbon-based nanomaterials significantly improve the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of PLA.
- Specific effects vary depending on the type of CBN (e.g., CNT vs. GBM) and its concentration.
- PLA/CBN composites show potential for advanced applications requiring superior material performance.
Conclusions:
- Incorporating carbon nanotubes and graphene-based materials is an effective strategy to enhance PLA properties.
- PLA/CBN composites offer a promising route to advanced materials with tailored performance profiles.
- Further research can optimize CBN dispersion and loading for specific high-performance applications.
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