Effect of radiation processing on physical properties of aminated MWCNTs/Poly(l-lactide) nanocomposites

Abstract To extend the applications of Poly( l -lactide) (PLLA) biopolymer in medicine and industry, the PLLA was reinforced using aminated Multiwalled carbon nanotubes(MWCNT-NH 2 )Nano fibers and then irradiated under gamma radiation. For valuable realization the characteristic of MWCNTs as reinforcing filer, initially, the PLLA were covalently grafted from the surface of MWCNT-NH 2 using l -lactide oligomer. For medical application purpose of PLLA and its nanocomposites, sterilization of samples under high energy radiation is carried out. Characterization of neat PLLA and its composites with various concentrations of reinforcing fillers, before and after irradiation processing was carried out to elucidate the effect of nanofillers and subsequently gamma irradiation on PLLA nanocomposites. The results show that after gamma irradiation the melting point of PLLA and its composites were decreased. The crystalline phase of PLLA and its composites was increased gradually with the dose of radiation. Finally, the photoluminescence (PL) of PLLA and its composites was increased with increasing the dose under irradiation processing.