Characterization of polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites by small angle scattering

A. E. BIANCHI; G. PUNTE; I.L. TORRIANI; P. EISENBERG; A. BOTANA; M. MOLLO; R.M. TORRES SANCHEZ

Valparaiso Chile

Congreso; Solidos09; 2009

Departamento de Física Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language:ES;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; The significant damage produced on the Earth’s ecosystem by the persistent plastic waste generates an urgent need to develop environmentally caring polymeric materials. Besides, improvement of polymers performance is also required. It has been found that polymers with natural minerals enclosures in the form of  nanoparticles lead to composites with highly improved stiffness, thermal stability, decreased flammability and gas-barrier properties at low loading (<5vol%). Present work is part of a project aimed to use local montmorillonite and hectorite functionalized with ambient friendly polymers like polihydroxybutirate (PHB) and poly-caprolactone  (PCL) to obtain nanocomposites (NC) with enhanced biodegradability and improved mechanical properties.