Morphology and mechanical properties of biodegradable nanocomposites based on polycaprolactone/thermoplastic-starch blend reinforced with natural and modified bentonite

MARÍA PAULA GUARÁS; SILVANA ECHEVERRÍA; LEANDRO N. LUDUEÑA; VERA A. ALVAREZ

Ciudad de Pto. Iguazú

Congreso; 13er. Congreso Internacional en Ciencia y Tecnología de Metalurgia y Materiales; 2013

In this work, biodegradable polymer/clay nanocomposites were prepared. The matrix used was based on a blend of Anhydride-Functional Polycaprolactone (PCL-g-MA) and Thermoplastic Starch (TPS). This system was optimized in a previous work by analyzing the effect of the plasticizer content on the mechanical properties and water absorption of TPS and the effect of grafting maleic anhydride (MA) onto PCL on the final morphology and mechanical properties of the PCL/PCL-g-MA/TPS blends. Nanocomposites films based on the optimized PCL/PCL-g-MA/TPS blend reinforced with 5 wt.% of natural montmorillonite and two organo-modified ones were prepared by melt intercalation followed by compression molding. The study contemplates morphological (X-Ray Diffractometry, XRD) and thermal aspects (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, DSC, and Thermogravimetrical Analysis, TGA), water absorption, mechanical properties (tensile tests) and biodegradability which are important properties for packaging applications.