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Enhancing processability and multifunctional properties of polylactic acid–graphene/carbon nanotube composites with cellulose nanocrystals
Ivanov, Evgeni Georgiev, Vladimir Stanley, Paul Eissa, Ahmed M Tolve, Roberta
Ivanov, Evgeni
Georgiev, Vladimir
Stanley, Paul
Eissa, Ahmed M
Tolve, Roberta
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2025-12-29
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polymers-18-00099.pdf
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Abstract
The growing accumulation of plastic and electronic waste highlights the urgent need for sustainable and biodegradable polymers. However, developing intrinsically conductive biodegradable polymers remains challenging, particularly for packaging and sensing applications. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is intrinsically non-conductive, and enhancing its functionality without compromising structural integrity is a key research goal. In this study, PLA-based filaments were developed using melt extrusion, incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), individually and in hybrid combinations with total filler contents between 1 and 5 wt%. The inclusion of CNC enhanced the dispersion of GNP and CNT, promoting the formation of interconnected conductive networks within the PLA matrix, allowing the percolation threshold to be reached at a lower fillers concentration. Hybrid formulations showed a balance melt strength and processability suitable for fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing and prototypes successfully made. This study also provides the first systematic evaluation of temperature-dependent thermal conductivity of PLA-based composites at multiple temperatures (25, 5, and −20 °C), relevant to typical food and medical supply chains conditions.
Citation
Guo, S., Ivanov, E., Georgiev, V. et al. (2025) Enhancing processability and multifunctional properties of polylactic acid–graphene/carbon nanotube composites with cellulose nanocrystals. Polymers, 18, 99.
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Journal article
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en
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© 2025 The Authors, published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
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2073-4360
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This research was funded by the faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Wolverhampton and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Pro-gramme of the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 871163.