<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <article key="pdf/13702" mdate="2013-01-24 00:00:00"> <author>Md F. Mina and Mohammad D.H. Beg and Muhammad R. Islam and Abu K. M. M. Alam A. Nizam and Rosli M. Younus</author> <title>Characterization of Biodegradable Nanocomposites with Poly (Lactic Acid) and MultiWalled Carbon Nanotubes</title> <pages>74 - 79</pages> <year>2013</year> <volume>7</volume> <number>1</number> <journal>International Journal of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering</journal> <ee>https://publications.waset.org/pdf/13702</ee> <url>https://publications.waset.org/vol/73</url> <publisher>World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology</publisher> <abstract>In this study, structural, mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites with lowloaded (01.5 wt) untreated, heat and nitric acid treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were studied. Among the composites, untreated 0.5 wt MWCNTs and acidtreated 1.0 wt MWCNTs reinforced PLA show the tensile strength and modulus values higher than the others. These two samples along with pure PLA exhibit the stable orthorhombic &amp;alpha;form, whilst other samples reveal the less stable orthorhombic &amp;beta;form, as demonstrated by Xray diffraction study. Differential scanning calorimetry reveals the evolution of the mentioned different phases by controlled cooling and discloses an enhancement of PLA crystallization by nanotubes incorporation. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the MWCNTs loaded sample degraded faster than PLA. Surface resistivity of the nanocomposites is found to be dropped drastically by a factor of 1013 with a low loading of MWCNTs (1.5 wt).</abstract> <index>Open Science Index 73, 2013</index> </article>