scholarly journals Physical-Mechanical Behavior and Water-Barrier Properties of Biopolymers-Clay Nanocomposites

Author(s):  
Heidy Lorena Calambas ◽  
Abril Fonseca ◽  
Dayana Adames ◽  
Yaneli Aguirre-Loredo ◽  
Carolina Caicedo

The preparation of new materials based on starch for the development of biodegradable packaging is increasing, however, the poor properties of this biopolymer for this application causes an area of opportunities for the improvement of water vapour permeability (WVP), mechanical properties, thermal properties, hydrophilicity, water absorption, among others. Hence, starch has been combined with other polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, which has shown an improvement in the mechanical properties of starch, also, the use of clays suggests that the properties of response to water can be improved. Therefore, in this work, the preparation and characterization of starch-PVA-nanoclay films prepared by solvent casting is reported. The results obtained suggest that the sonication of nanoclay is necessary to reach a good dispersion, which promotes a strong interaction among starch-PVA-nanoclay. In addition, the properties of WVP and mechanical properties of films improved with incorporation of nanoclay, the concentration of 0.5% w/v of nanoclay showed to be the best concentration due to concentrations of 1.0 and 1.5% w/v were poorer than 0.5% w/v. Accordingly, the successful incorporation of nanoclays into the matrix starch-PVA suggests that this material is a good candidate for use as packaging.

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 6734
Author(s):  
Heidy Lorena Calambas ◽  
Abril Fonseca ◽  
Dayana Adames ◽  
Yaneli Aguirre-Loredo ◽  
Carolina Caicedo

The preparation and characterization of biodegradable films based on starch-PVA-nanoclay by solvent casting are reported in this study. The films were prepared with a relation of 3:2 of starch:PVA and nanoclay (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% w/v), and glycerol as plasticizer. The nanoclays before being incorporated in the filmogenic solution of starch-PVA were dispersed in two ways: by magnetic stirring and by sonication. The SEM results suggest that the sonication of nanoclay is necessary to reach a good dispersion along the polymeric matrix. FTIR results of films with 1.0 and 1.5% w/v of sonicated nanoclay suggest a strong interaction of hydrogen bond with the polymeric matrix of starch-PVA. However, the properties of WVP, tensile strength, percentage of elongation at break, and Young’s modulus improved to the film with sonicated nanoclay at 0.5% w/v, while in films with 1.0 and 1.5% w/w these properties were even worse than in film without nanoclay. Nanoclay concentrations higher than 1.0 w/v saturate the polymer matrix, affecting the physicochemical properties. Accordingly, the successful incorporation of nanoclays at 0.5% w/v into the matrix starch-PVA suggests that this film is a good candidate for use as biodegradable packaging.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2588
Author(s):  
Mansuri M. Tosif ◽  
Agnieszka Najda ◽  
Aarti Bains ◽  
Grażyna Zawiślak ◽  
Grzegorz Maj ◽  
...  

In recent years, scientists have focused on research to replace petroleum-based components plastics, in an eco-friendly and cost-effective manner, with plant-derived biopolymers offering suitable mechanical properties. Moreover, due to high environmental pollution, global warming, and the foreseen shortage of oil supplies, the quest for the formulation of biobased, non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer films is still emerging. Several biopolymers from varied natural resources such as starch, cellulose, gums, agar, milk, cereal, and legume proteins have been used as eco-friendly packaging materials for the substitute of non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastic-based packaging materials. Among all biopolymers, starch is an edible carbohydrate complex, composed of a linear polymer, amylose, and amylopectin. They have usually been considered as a favorite choice of material for food packaging applications due to their excellent forming ability, low cost, and environmental compatibility. Although the film prepared from bio-polymer materials improves the shelf life of commodities by protecting them against interior and exterior factors, suitable barrier properties are impossible to attain with single polymeric packaging material. Therefore, the properties of edible films can be modified based on the hydrophobic–hydrophilic qualities of biomolecules. Certain chemical modifications of starch have been performed; however, the chemical residues may impart toxicity in the food commodity. Therefore, in such cases, several plant-derived polymeric combinations could be used as an effective binary blend of the polymer to improve the mechanical and barrier properties of packaging film. Recently, scientists have shown their great interest in underutilized plant-derived mucilage to synthesize biodegradable packaging material with desirable properties. Mucilage has a great potential to produce a stable polymeric network that confines starch granules that delay the release of amylose, improving the mechanical property of films. Therefore, the proposed review article is emphasized on the utilization of a blend of source and plant-derived mucilage for the synthesis of biodegradable packaging film. Herein, the synthesis process, characterization, mechanical properties, functional properties, and application of starch and mucilage-based film are discussed in detail.


2010 ◽  
Vol 123-125 ◽  
pp. 351-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahmida Parvin ◽  
Md. Arifur Rahman ◽  
Jahid M.M. Islam ◽  
Mubarak A. Khan ◽  
A.H.M. Saadat

Polymer films of rice starch/Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared by casting method. Different blends were made varying the concentration of rice starch and PVA. Tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (Eb) of the prepared films were studied. Films made up of rice starch and PVA with a ratio of 2:8 showed highest TS. 10% sugar was added with highest TS giving four composition of Starch/PVA blend in order to increase TS and Eb. Films made up of rice starch and PVA and sugar with a ratio of 1:8:1 showed highest TS and Eb and the recorded value was 14.96MPa and 637% respectively. The physico-mechanical properties of the prepared sugar incorporated films were improved by grafting with acrylic monomer with the aid of UV radiation. A formulation was prepared with monomer, methylmethacrylat in methanol, and a photo initiator. The highest TS of the grafted films were recorded and the value was 16.38 MPa. The water uptake and weight loss in both soil and water of the grafted films are lower than the non-grafted films. The prepared films were further characterized with stereo micrograph and XRD. Finally, the produced film can be used as biodegradable packaging materials for shopping and garbage bags that are very popular and environment friendly.


Author(s):  
Carson O. Squibb ◽  
Michael K. Philen

Smart materials are unique in their ability to change properties in response to an environmental stimulus. These materials provide promising opportunities for adaptable aerospace structures, where they can be altered to suit their need. In this research, Honeycomb Polymer Composites (HPCs) were investigated as potential materials for this need. HPCs are new materials that consist of a polymer embedded in a honeycomb structure, and exhibit a significantly higher stiffness than the polymer or honeycomb alone. This stiffness amplification is due to the nearly incompressible polymer resisting the volume change within the honeycomb cells. HPC samples were fabricated using an aramid honeycomb, with either silicone or urethane rubber as the matrix materials to fill the honeycomb. Varying polymer stiffness, honeycomb geometry, and testing temperature were all tested to observe the effects on the material properties. The results indicated that the HPCs could be effectively tailored and modeled to suit the need for different effective moduli. This research provides important insight and results in the development of programmable honeycomb polymer composites (PHPCs), which rely on shape memory polymers (SMP) as the internal working polymer.


2006 ◽  
Vol 939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsung-Yen Tsai ◽  
Shau-Tai Lu ◽  
Chih-Hung Li ◽  
Chin-Jei Huang ◽  
Li-Chun Chen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIntercalated or exfoliated nanocomposites were composed by the novolac cured epoxy and one of three different kinds of layered silicates, such as montmorillonite (PK-802), saponite (Semecton-SA) and nontronite (PK-805). The bi-functional modifiers (PI/BEN or MI/BEN) with different ratio, which contained one of the promoters (2-phenylimidazole, PI and 2-methylimidazole, MI) of epoxy and benzalkonium chloride (BEN), were intercalated into the gallery regions of pure clays at the same time and followed by a crosslinking reaction. The properties of novolac cured epoxy/clay nanocomposites were characterized by wild-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD), thermal analysis (TGA/DSC), coefficiency of thermal expansion (TMA), mechanical properties (DMA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to the measurement, these novolac cured epoxy-clay nanocomposites have shown the significant improvement in the thermal, mechanical and barrier properties.


2013 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 186-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Gądek-Moszczak ◽  
Sabina Żmudka

The main goal of the study was working out the method of qualitative and quantitative analysis of the microstructure on 3D images of the polypropylene composites with Tuf (type of rock consisting volcanic ash) particles. Three types of composite were analyzed: with 10, 15 and 25% of Tuf. The standard morphological parameters were indicated that describes size, shape, and distribution of Tuf particles in the matrix. The morphological characterization of examined microstructure was compared with mechanical properties. The optimal from the point of mechanical properties composition of this composite were proposed.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 2861
Author(s):  
Zhi-Jun Chen ◽  
Chi-Hui Tsou ◽  
Meng-Lin Tsai ◽  
Jipeng Guo ◽  
Manuel Reyes De Guzman ◽  
...  

Adding natural biomass to poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a reinforcing filler is a way to change the properties of PLA. This paper is about preparing PLA/biomass composites by physically melting and blending Chinese Spirits distiller’s grains (CSDG) biomass and PLA to optimize the composite performance. Composites of modified PLA (MPLA) with varying amounts of CSDG were also prepared by the melt-mixing method, and unmodified PLA/CSDG composites were used as a control group for comparative analysis. The functional groups of MPLA enhanced the compatibility between the polymer substrate and CSDG. The composite water vapor/oxygen barrier and mechanical properties were studied. It was found that the barrier and mechanical properties of MPLA/CSDG composites were significantly improved. SEM was adopted to examine the tensile section structure of the composites, and the compatibility between the filler and the matrix was analyzed. An appropriate amount of CSDG had a better dispersibility in the matrix, and it further improved the interfacial bonding force, which in turn improved the composite mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry were conducted to determine the crystalline properties and to analyze the stability of the composites. It was found that the CSDG content had a significant effect on the crystallinity. Barrier and biodegradation mechanisms were also discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Bulanda ◽  
Mariusz Oleksy ◽  
Rafał Oliwa ◽  
Grzegorz Budzik ◽  
Tadeusz Markowski

AbstractNew materials and filaments dedicated to 3D printing were obtained using the fused deposition modeling method, and the properties of the produced materials were investigated. Polylactide was used as a polymer base for the assays because of the desired properties of the polymer, mainly biodegradability, and the matrix was refilled by the addition of metallic nanofillers, such as bronze, copper, brass, and steel. For the composites obtained, mechanical properties were investigated to determine the dependence of the obtained results on the content and type of filler used and on the method of fabrication of the fittings. It was found that the additives present in the polymer matrix increased the fluidity of the material. The best results were obtained for the compositions with bronze and steel in which the mass flow rate was 72.97 and 79.99 g/10 min, respectively. The filled material that had lower hardness was measured by Rockwell and the impact strength was measured by Charpy. In addition, it was found that injection-molded parts obtained much better mechanical properties than those obtained by 3D printing.


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