Talc Nanoparticles Influence on Thermoplastic Corn Starch Film Properties

LÓPEZ, OLIVIA; CASTILLO, LUCIANA; ZARITZKY, NOEMÍ; BARBOSA, SILVIA; VILLAR, MARCELO; GARCÍA, MARÍA ALEJANDRA

Procedia Materials Science

Elsevier

Año: 2015 vol. 8 p. 338 - 345

2211-8128

Composite films of TPS with talc nanoparticles were obtained by thermo-compression in order to study the effect of this filler onstructure, optical, and thermal properties. TPS-talc films showed good appearance and homogeneous thickness. Talc additionincreased the amount of rigid phase in nanocomposite films, thus their cross-sections resulted more irregular than those of TPSones. Talc preferential orientation within matrix and good compatibility between particles and TPS were evidenced. TEMobservation showed scattered randomly dispersed individual talc platelets. Matrix crystallinity degree was not significantlyaffected by particles presence. Nanocomposite films were optically transparent due to the laminar morphology and nanosizedparticles. Materials microstructure presented glycerol- and starch-rich domains. Talc incorporation higher than 3 % w/wincreased softening resistance of nanocomposites as stated by DMA assays. TPS relaxation temperature of glycerol-rich phasewas shifted to higher values since talc nanoparticles reduce starch chains mobility