Effect of multi walled carbon nanotubes on thermal conductivity of polylactic acid nanocomposite

Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) hold the increasing interest in many different fields. To employ MWCNT as an effective reinforcement in order to enhance the thermal conductivity of polylactic acid (PLA) modified with liquid natural rubber (LNR), proper dispersion and appropriate interfacial adhesion between MWCNT and PLA/LNR have to be guaranteed. This paper used ultrasonic technique as the method to help to improve the dispersion of MWCNT in PLA/LNR matrix. The result shown that the sample with 3.5 wt.% of MWCNT provided higher thermal conductivity which is believe to be the optimum loading due to better dispersion of MWCNT in PLA/LNR matrix. The 4 wt.% of MWCNT shows decreasing of thermal conductivity due to the presence of agglomeration of MWCNT. The results confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrograph. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra shown that there were no chemical changes happen