Polylactide nanocomposites with functionalized carbon nanotubes and their stereocomplexes: A focused review

• Functionalized carbon nanotubes exhibit good dispersion and efficient interactions with PLA matrix.
• Functionalized carbon nanotubes are used to improve PLA thermal and mechanical properties.
• Stereocomplexation gives another way to obtain PLA-based materials with a variety of enhanced properties.
• Combination of stereocomplexation and functionalization of CNTs leads to obtaining novel PLA-based materials.
• PLA–CNTs stereocomplex nanocomposites are novel materials with unique properties and morphology.

Poly(lactide)-carbon nanotubes nanocomposites (PLA–CNTs) with poly(lactide) (PLA) covalently attached to CNTs show enhanced mechanical and thermal properties. Two methods of CNTs modification were mainly employed: “grafting from” and “grafting to”, to improve their key parameters affecting the properties of composites – the dispersion and compatibility with PLA matrix. On the other hand stereocomplexation of enantiomers of PLA also leads to acquire the PLA-based materials with improved thermal-resistance, mechanical properties and the hydrolysis-resistance. PLA–CNTs stereocomplex nanocomposites are novel materials with unique properties due to synergic effect of carbon nanotubes and stereocomplexation. This featured letter reports recent developments in this new field.

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