Biodegradable PLLA-MWCNTs nanocomposites

P. SELIGRA; F. NUEVO; L. RIBBA; N.L. GARCÍA; M. LAMANNA; L. FAMÁ

Congreso; The 3rd International Conference on Biodegradable and Biobased Polymers, BIOPOL; 2011

The replacement of synthetic polymers for biopolymers is one of the topics in greater boom in recent times. In particular, poly(L-lactic acid), PLLA, is a biodegradable material with potential for use in packaging [1] and in the biomedical field (sutures, temporary implants, tissue engineering) [2]. On the other hand, carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have excellent electrical and mechanical properties and could be applied in the development of biomedical sensors [1, 3]. For them characteristics, it has tried to incorporate them to different types of matrix as reinforcement, in order to achieve multifunctional materials. It is known that the dispersion of CNTs in a biodegradable matrix is a problem to resolve, to achieve the desired properties. In the case of PLLA, have not been reported any method to obtain PLLA-MWCNTs composites with good properties. This paper aims to develop a biodegradable nanocomposite material with excellent bonding matrix-MWCNTs through the functionalization of the filler with PLA, in order to ensure good stress transfer and thus good mechanical response.