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.