Morphological, mechanical, and electrical properties as a function of thermal bonding in electrospun nanocomposites

Poly lactic acid (PLA) was electrospun with various concentrations of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and thermal bonding was utilized as a post-processing treatment to improve the mechanical and electrical properties of the nanofibrous mats. Thermally bonded fiber-fiber junctions were observed with scanning electron microscopy. An increase in either the strength or modulus of the PLA mats both with and without MWNTs was observed; the maximum modulus and maximum strength occur at different treatment conditions. The electrical conductivity of the MWNT loaded mats showed significant improvement after treatment just below the composite melting point. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.