Functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes for reinforcing of poly(l-lactide-co-ɛ-caprolactone) biodegradable copolymers

Up to now, synthetic polymers and biomacromolecules have been grafted or assembled onto the convex surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via covalent bonds or chemisorptions. In this research, poly(l-lactide-co-ɛ-caprolactone)-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-OH-g-PCLA)s are synthesized by in situ ring-opening copolymerization of l-lactide (LA) and ɛ-caprolactone (CL) using stannous octanoate and hydroxylated MWCNTs (MWCNT-OHs) as the initiating system. The pristine MWCNTs are modified to possess carboxyl groups and then hydroxyl groups. MWCNT-OHs are used as coinitiators to polymerize LA and CL by the surface-initiated ring-opening polymerization. The FT-IR spectra, SEM and TEM micrographs revealed that the PCLA grafted form the sidewall of MWCNTs strongly. The TGA analysis indicates that about 75 wt% of functionalized MWCNTs with PCLA belongs to grafted PCLA and the remaining 25 wt% to the initial MWCNT-OH.