Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Biodegradable Polycaprolactone/Carbon Nanotube Composites

The mechanical and rheological properties of new polymer composites based on polycaprolactone filled with single-walled carbon nanotubes are studied. All composites were prepared by hot melt compounding. Filling of polycaprolactone with carbon nanotubes in an amount from 0 to 1 wt.% leads to an increase in the elastic modulus by almost 75% and a twofold decrease in tensile strength and elongation at break compared to the pure polycaprolactone. With an increase in the content of carbon nanotubes, the melt flow index of the composites decreases by almost 10 times compared with the pure polycaprolactone.