INTECIN   20395
INSTITUTO DE TECNOLOGIAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA INGENIERIA "HILARIO FERNANDEZ LONG"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
PLLA intelligent packaging using MWCNT and DO3 dye
Autor/es:
L. RIBBA; L. FAMÁ; I. MONDRAGÓN; S, GOYANES
Reunión:
Congreso; The 3rd International Conference on Biodegradable and Biobased Polymers, BIOPOL; 2011
Resumen:
Currently, there is strong demand for materials with
specific properties in view of different applications. Polymers are among the
most widely used because of their multiple possibilities of adaptation and
combination. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer based
in aliphatic polyesters, presently used in the packaging industry.
Carbon
nanotubes have been studied as an effective reinforcement for polymer
composites due to their exceptional mechanical properties, large surface area
to volume ratio and electrical conductivity. Among the many applications of
carbon nanotubes as nanofillers in polymer matrix composite, one is their use
as sensors based on changes in electrical conductivity of the material [1,2]. To
employ multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as effective reinforcement in
polymer nanocomposites, proper dispersion has to be guaranteed. One way of
improving their dispersion is through non-covalent functionalization.
Particularly, it has been demonstrated that a diazo dye molecule, Disperse
Orange 3 (DO3), efficiently improves the dispersion of MWCNT in tetrahydrofuran
without damaging the molecular characteristics of carbon nanotubes and thus
preserving their properties [2]. On the other hand, photoresponsive polymers
containing azobenzene moieties have been extensively investigated because of
their promising and diversified applications in optical data storage, optical
switching,and optoelectronics [3,4].
The combination of MWCNT-DO3-PLA is a promising
combination for the implementation of these new materials as electrical-optical-sensors.
A special consideration should be made about the use of this material as food
packaging, since both the D03 and the nanotubes present some restrictions [5,6].
This work aims at the adequate dispersion of MWCNT in a PLA matrix using DO3 as
a surfactant, to achieve electric conducting, optically active composites with
better wear resistance than PLA matrix.