CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Biodegradable polymers are become significant due to waste accumulation around the world. Nevertheless, several properties should be improved in order to use them for specific applications. One of the strategies to do that is to incorporate reinforcements for example, nanoclays. In this work, natural filler (bentonite) were incorporated to biodegradable matrices (polycaprolactone, PCL and polyvinylalcohol, PVOH) in order to produce composites to be used as packaging and wound dressing. In the case of PCL, due to its hydrophobicity, it was necessary to modify the bentonite in order to improve filler/matrix compatibility whereas in the case of PVOH this procedure was suppressed because both, the matrix and the filler are highly polar. Composites were prepared, using 0 to 10 wt.% of filler, by casting from aqueous solutions for PVOH and organic solvent solutions for PCL. PVOH/bentonite hydrogels were obtained after 3 freezing-thawing cycles and PCL/bentonite nanocomposites were obtained after solvent evaporation at room temperature. General properties of matrices and composites were determined analyzing the effect of particles on each one. It was determined that the incorporation of bentonite produce a decrease on the water vapour transmission rate which is very important for both selected applications. On the other hand, that filler was able to enhance the mechanical performance of neat matrices measured by tensile and compression properties. In the case of PCL nanocomposites, the effect of chemical modifier used for bentonite was evaluated and the best one was selected. Impact properties was also determined due to it relevance in packaging. In the case of hydrogels, antimicrobial tests are being carried out because it is essential for wound healing. The obtained results allow as being optimist about the potential use of both composites for each application.