Morphology and mechanical properties of PCL/modified-clay biodegradable nanocomposites

ROMINA OLLIER; LEANDRO LUDUEÑA; ANALIA VÁZQUEZ; VERA ALVAREZ

San Sebastián

Congreso; 11th European Symposium on Polymer Blends,; 2012

Because of waste accumulation at the end of the life cycle of traditional polymer products, the development of environmental friendly, degradable, polymeric materials has attracted extensive interest in the last decades. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a chemically synthesized polymer which does not occur in nature but it is fully biodegradable [1]. The performance of this polymer can be greatly enhanced by the addition of nanometer-size inorganic fillers, such as layered silicates producing nanocomposites. The mechanical, barrier, thermal properties, togheter with water adsorption and creep resistance, can be greatly enhanced with the addition of a small amount of filler (usually less than 10 wt.%) [1-5]. Montmorillonite and bentonite are commonly used layered silicates in which the interlayer ions can be exchanged by organic ions in order to produce an increment in the interlayer spacing (d) and to improve the polymer/clay compatibility. In previous works [2,5] we have analyzed the effect of a commercial organo-modified montmorillonite (Cloisite 30B, C30B) [2] and a laboratory organo-modified bentonite [5] on the morphology and mechanical properties of PCL/clay nanocomposites prepared by casting. The aim of this work was to compare the effect of both organo-modified clays on the final morphology and mechanical properties of PCL/clay nanocomposites.