Properties and drawbacks of biodegradable polymers

Recently, the utility of inorganic nanoparticles as additives to enhance the polymer performance has been established. Various nano reinforcements currently being developed are nano-clay (layered silicates),cellulose nanowhiskers, ultra fine layered titanate, and carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes, however, are the most promising of the new nanomaterials. Carbon nanotube-based polymer composites are poised to exhibit exceptional mechanical, thermal and electrical properties.  

The main reason for these improved properties in nanocomposites is the nanometer scale of the dispersed fillers and the interfacial interaction between 

1 Structure of layered silicate and schematic illustration of two different types of thermodynamically achievable polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites. 

One successful method to prepare polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites is to intercalate polymers into the silicate galleries. Generally, intercalation of polymer chains into the silicate galleries is done by using one of the following three approaches  

Insertion of suitable monomers in the silicate galleries and subsequent polymerizationIn this method, the layered silicate is swollen within the liquid monomer, or a monomer solution, so the polymer formation can occur between the intercalated sheets. Polymerization can be initiated either by heat or radiation, by the diffusion of a suitable initiator, or by an organic initiator or catalyst fixed through cation exchange inside the interlayer before the swelling step. 

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