Biodegradable polyester nanocomposites: the effect of structure on mechanical and degradation behavior

0366920 - ÚMCH 2012 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Kotek, Jiří - Kubies, Dana - Baldrian, Josef - Kovářová, Jana
Biodegradable polyester nanocomposites: the effect of structure on mechanical and degradation behavior.
European Polymer Journal. Roč. 47, č. 12 (2011), s. 2197-2207. ISSN 0014-3057. E-ISSN 1873-1945
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR KJB200500601
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z40500505
Keywords : nanocomposite * poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone) * layered silicate
Subject RIV: JI - Composite Materials
Impact factor: 2.739, year: 2011

The study describes the effect of the layered silicate content and its dispersion on the mechanical and degradation behavior of poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone) (PCL) nanocomposites. Two nanocomposite systems were compared: intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites. They were prepared by melt-compounding of PCL with in situ polymerized silicate masterbatches or an organophilized montmorillonite. It has been shown that stiffness enhancement is predominantly caused by the dispersed inorganic phase but it is also supported by the contribution of the low-molecular-weight PCL fraction, which comes from the masterbatch, to the total degree of crystallinity. In contrast, the increase in the yield stress is driven mainly by the present low-molecular-weight PCL fraction with higher crystallinity. The degradation behavior reflects both the presence of the layered silicate as well as the low-molecular-weight PCL fraction. Their presence accelerates the degradation in the phosphate buffer at 37 °C.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0006650