Mechanical behaviour of starch-based nanocomposites

L. FAMÁ, V. PETTARÍN, S. GOYANES, C. BERNAL

San Sebastián, España

Conferencia; V International Conference on Science and Technology of Composites Materials. ISBN 978-84-692-5483-7; 2009

Asociación Española de Materiales Compuestos

In this work, novel nanocomposites based in tapioca starch polymer reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were developed. The effect of the addition of small fractions of MWCNTs (0.027 wt.% and 0.055 wt.%) in the quasistatic tensile and in the biaxial impact response of the nanocomposites was investigated. An aqueous solution of starch-iodine complex was used to wrap the filler before adding it to the polymer. Under both loading conditions investigated, the nanocomposites exhibited improved mechanical behaviour in comparison to the starch matrix. In addition, it was observed that carbon nanotubes were properly wrapped by the starch-iodine complex used. From the above findings, good dispersion of individual nanotubes or bundle of them in the starch matrix and adequate adhesion between phases could be expected.