Preparation and characterization of biodegradable nanocomposites based on polycaprolactone/thermoplasticstarch blend reinforced with bentonite.

M.P. GUARAS; SILVANA ECHEVERRÍA; L.N. LUDUEÑA; V.A. ALVAREZ

Santa Fé, Argentina

Congreso; Congreso Internacional de Metalurgia y Materiales SAM-CONAMET/IBEROMAT/MATERIA 2014; 2014

In this study, Anhydride-Functional Polycaprolactone (PCL-g-MA) and Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) blends were prepared. Before preparing the blends, 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 at different PCL/MA proportions on the final morphology and mechanical properties were studied. Nanocomposites films based on the optimized PCL-g-MA/TPS blend reinforced with 5 wt.% of natural bentonite (Bent) and natural bentonite modified in our laboratory with tributyl-hexadecyl-phosphonium-bromide (BentTBHP) were prepared by melt intercalation followed by compression molding. The study contemplates morphological (X-Ray Diffractometry) and thermal aspects (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetrical Analysis) and mechanical properties.