Biodegradable polymer nanocomposite properties

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.. 

Fernandes FM, Darder M, Ruiz AI, Aranda P, Ruiz-Hitzky E (2011) Gelatine-based bio-nanocomposites. In Mittal V (ed) Nanocomposites with biodegradable polymers. Synthesis, properties, and futnre perspectives. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 209-233... 

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... 

C. Johansson, in Nanocomposites with Biodegradable Polymers Synthesis, Properties and Future Perspectives, ed. V. Mittal, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2011, pp. 348-367. 

The tensile modulus of a polymeric material has been shown to be remarkably improved when nanocomposites are formed with layered silicates. In the case of biodegradable polymer nanocomposites, most studies report the tensile properties as a function of clay content. In most conventionally filled polymer systems, the modulus increases linearly with the filler volume fraction, whereas for these nanoparticles much lower filler concentrations increase the modulus sharply and to a much larger extent. The dramatic enhancement of the modulus... 

Natural biodegradable polymers with tailor-made properties offer excellent opportunities for advanced functional materials, e.g., biodegradable conductive nanocomposites based on polypyrrole (Ppy)/dextrin or PANI/dextrin provide enhanced conductive and antibacterial activities. 

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)... 

Blending and compositing have been successfully used in starch-based materials. Starch was initially used a fillers blended with various polymers, especially with polyolefin. Blending starch with biodegradable polymers has attracted more and more attention. The interest in new nanoscale fillers has rapidly grown since it was discovered that a nanostructure could be built from a polymer and a layered nanoclay. These new nanocomposites show dramatic improvement in mechanical properties with low filler content. Cellulose is the major substance obtained from vegetable fibers, and applications for cellulose fiber-reinforced polymers have again come to the forefront with the focus on renewable feedstocks. Hydrophilic cellulose fibers are very compatible with most natural polymers. 

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