Mechanical properties of layered silicate/starch polycaprolactone blend nanocomposites

C. JAVIER PÉREZ, VERA A. ALVAREZ, IÑAKI MONDRAGÓN AND ANALÍA VÁZQUEZ

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL

Wiley

Año: 2006 vol. 56 p. 656 - 893

0959-8103

The mechanical behavior of layered silicate/starch-polycaprolactone blends nanocomposites was evaluated. Three different clays (Cloisite Na+, Cloisite 30B and Cloisite 10A) were used as reinforcement. Nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation followed by compression molding. These nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile test. X-Ray diffraction  results showed that the most of the clays are intercalated within the polymeric chains. In all cases, mechanical properties were improved with clay incorporation ant the improvement was better as the clay content was increased. The best properties were achieved with Cloisite 10A nanocomposites due to their greatest compatibility with the matrix. A mechanical model, which takes into account the effective parameters of the clay,  was used in order to estimate the dispersion of clay within the polymer. The highest dispersion was obtained for Cloisite 10A, which is in accordance with the experimental mechanical properties.  Although dynamical-mechanical properties improved with clay incorporation, the glass transition temperature was not affected.