Interaction of Poly L-Lactide and Tungsten Disulfide Nanotubes Studied by In Situ X-ray Scattering during Expansion of PLLA/WS2NT Nanocomposite Tubes

In situ synchrotron X-ray scattering was used to reveal the transient microstructure of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/tungsten disulfide inorganic nanotubes (WS2NTs) nanocomposites. This is formed during blow molding process (“tube expansion”) an extruded polymer tube, important step in manufacturing PLLA-based bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS). A fundamental understanding how such a develops processing relevant two unmet needs BVS: increasing strength enable thinner devices and improving radiopacity imaging implantation. Here, we focus on flow generated tube expansion affects orientation WS2NTs formation crystals by comparing neat PLLA nanocomposite tubes under different conditions. Surprisingly, remain oriented along extrusion direction despite significant strain transverse while (c-axis) form circumferential tube. Although promote nucleation tubes, crystallization proceeds with largely same as tubes. We suggest that reason for unusual independence orientations stems from favorable interaction between WS2NTs. leads disperse well strongly orient axis extrusion. As consequence, are aligned orthogonally stretching direction, which appears decouple