Poly(ethylene furanoate)/ polylactic acid (PEF/PLA) blends filled with carbon nanotubes (CNTs): Morphology and mechanical properties
Safa AHMED, Ruth CARDINAELS, Basim ABU-JDAYIL, Muhammad Z. IQBAL
Abstract. Blending poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) with polylactic acid (PLA) represents a promising strategy for creating fully bio-based polymer systems with tunable performance characteristics. In the present study, the compatibility and morphology of PEF/PLA blends were investigated, with particular emphasis on the influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) introduced as a conductive reinforcement. In the blend, only partial compatibility between PEF and PLA was observed. The addition of CNTs, however, significantly improved the interfacial interaction, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed a uniform microstructure without distinct phase separation. This structural refinement was accompanied by notable improvements in mechanical behavior, with tensile strength and elastic modulus rising by roughly 20% and 25%, respectively, highlighting the reinforcing contribution of CNTs.
Keywords
PEF, PLA, CNTs, Polymer Blends, Nanocomposites, Compatibility, Mechanical Properties
Published online 6/20/2026, 6 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Safa AHMED, Ruth CARDINAELS, Basim ABU-JDAYIL, Muhammad Z. IQBAL, Poly(ethylene furanoate)/ polylactic acid (PEF/PLA) blends filled with carbon nanotubes (CNTs): Morphology and mechanical properties, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 307-312, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-42
The article was published as article 42 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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