Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society 2015 Volume 80, Issue 4, Pages: 529-547
https://doi.org/10.2298/JSC140924119N
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Influence of clay organic modifier on morphology and performance of poly(ε-caprolactone)/clay nanocomposites
Nikolić Marija S.
(Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade)
Đorđević Nataša (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade)
Rogan Jelena
(Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade)
Đonlagić Jasna
(Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade)
Two series of poly(e-caprolactone) nanocomposites with different
organo-modified clays (1 to 8 wt%) were prepared by the solution casting
method. Organoclays with polar (Cloisite®C30B) and nonpolar (Cloisite®C15A)
organic modifier and with different miscibility with poly(e-caprolactone)
matrix, were chosen. Exfoliated and/or intercalated nanocomposite’s
structures were obtained by using high dilution and an ultrasonic treatment
for the composite preparation. The effect of the surface modification and
clay content on the morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of the
nanocomposites was studied. Scanning electron microscopy excluded the
formation of microcomposite. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis
revealed that the tendency toward exfoliated structure is higher for the
Cloisite®C30B, which had better miscibility with poly(e-caprolactone) matrix.
Differences in spherulites’ sizes and morphology between two series of the
nanocomposites were observed by the optical microscopy performed on as-casted
films. Enthalpies of fusion and degrees of crystallinity were higher for
nanocomposites than for neat poly(e-caprolactone) and increase with the clay
loading in both series, as a consequence of the clay nucleating effect.
Decreased thermal stability of nanocomposites was ascribed to thermal
instability of organic modifiers of the clays. The Halpin-Tsai model was used
to compare the theoretically predicted values of the Young’s modulus with
experimentally obtained ones in tensile tests.
Keywords: biodegradable, aliphatic polyester, layered silicate, solution casting
Projekat Ministarstva nauke
Republike Srbije, br. 172062