Biodegradable polymer nanocomposite biodegradability

B. Sitharaman, X.F. Shi, X.F. Walboomers, H.B. Liao, V. Cuijpers, L.J. Wilson, A.G. Mikos, J.A. Jansen, In vivo biocompatibility of ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotube/biodegradable polymer nanocomposites for, bone tissue engineering, Bone, vol. 43, pp. 362-3Z0, 2008. 

Botana et al. [50] have prepared polymer nanocomposites, based on a bacterial biodegradable thermoplastic polyester, PHB and two commercial montmorillonites [MMT], unmodified and modified by melt-blending technique at 165°C. PHB/Na and PHB/ C30B were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry [DSC], polarized optical microscopy [POM], X-ray diffraction [XRD], transmission electron microscopy [TEM], mechanical properties, and burning behavior. Intercalation/exfoliation observed by TEM and XRD was more pronounced for PHB30B than PHB/Na,... 

Preparation of polymer nanocomposites is nowadays an important research subject since polymer properties can be enhanced (e.g., modulus, strength, thermal resistance, per-meabifity, flammabifity resistance, and even biodegradability)... 

Explain the improvement in the following properties, with suitable examples, for different vegetable oil-based polymer nanocomposites (i) tensile strength, (ii) gas permeability, (iii) thermostability and (iv) biodegradability. 

How does nanoclay in vegetable oil-based polymer nanocomposites act as a catalyst in the biodegradation of polyester/clay nanocomposites ... 

Biodegradable polymer nanocomposites have emerged as a new class of materials and attracted considerable interest and investment in research and development worldwide [76-79]. This is largely due to their new and often much improved mechanical, thermal, electrical and optical properties as compared to their macro- and micro- coimterparts. In general, polymer nanocomposites are made by dispersing inorganic or organic nanoparticles into either a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer [80-85]. Nanoparticles can be three-dimensional spherical and polyhedral nanoparticles (e.g.. 

Ray, S.S. Thermal stability and flammability of environmentally friendly polymer nanocomposites using biodegradable polymer matrices and clay/carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcements. Environmentally Friendly Polymer Nanocomposites, pp. 295-327. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2013)... 

Marras SI, Kladi KP, Tsivintzelis I, Zuburtikudis I, Panayiotou C (2008) Biodegradable polymer nanocomposites the role of nanoclays on the thermomechanical characteristics and the electrospun fibrous structure. Acta Biomaterialia 4 756-765... 

Lu X-L et al (2013) Preparation and shape memory properties of Ti02/PLCL biodegradable polymer nanocomposites. Trans Nonferr Metal Soc China 23(1) 120-127... 

Shi XF, Sitharaman B, Pham QP, Spicer PP, Hudson JL, Wilson U, et al. In vitro cytotoxicity of single-walled carbon nanotube/biodegradable polymer nanocomposites. J Biomed Mater Res A 2008 86(3) 813—23. 

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