Preparation and properties of poly(lactic acid)/lipophilized graphene oxide nanohybrids

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/lipophilized graphene oxide (LGO) nanohybrids were prepared using a solution blending method. Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized using a modified Hummers method and then lipophilized by functionalization with alkylamines such as octylamine, dodecylamine or octadecylamine (ODA). PLA/GO nanohybrids were also prepared for comparison. Among the LGOs, ODA‐GO was chosen to produce the PLA/LGO nanohybrids because ODA‐GO exhibited obvious intercalation behavior and the best dispersibility in chloroform. The properties of the PLA/GO and PLA/LGO nanohybrids were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, a universal testing machine, chemical resistance measurements and hydrolytic degradability analysis. The hydrophobic ODA‐GO was dispersed on the nanoscale within the PLA matrix and the resulting nanohybrids showed significantly higher chemical resistance and reduced hydrolytic degradation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry Poly(lactic acid)/lipophilized graphene oxide nanohybrids were prepared using a solution blending method. Octadecylamine‐functionalized graphene oxide exhibited obvious intercalation behavior and the best dispersibility in chloroform and thermomechanical properties.