Water uptake of layered silicate/starch polycaprolactone blends nanocomposites

C .J. PÉREZ, V. A. ALVAREZ, I. MONDRAGÓN, A. VÁZQUEZ

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL

Wiley

Año: 2008 vol. 57 p. 247 - 253

0959-8103

The water uptake behavior of biodegradable layered silicate/starch-polycaprolactone blends nanocomposites was evaluated. Three different commercial layered silicates (Cloisite Na+, Cloisite 30B and Cloisite 10A) were used as reinforcement nanofillers. Tests were carried out in two different environments: 60 % RH and 90 % RH by using glycerol solutions. The clay/starch-polycaprolactone blends nanocomposites were obtained by melt intercalation and characterized by gravimetric measurements and tensile tests. Mechanical properties increased with clay content because part of the clay were exfoliated whereas some intercalated structure regarded in the composite. This structure conducted to lower water absorption as a function of clay content probably due to the decrease of the mean free path of water molecules. On the other hand, diffusion coefficient decreased with clay incorporation but further the increment on the clay content did not show an important effect on this parameter.