• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2003

In this study, two types of biodegradable resins-based clay nanocomposites, in which organic montmorillonite clay was filled, were prepared by the direct melt blending method. In order to characterize the nanocomposite structure, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and TEM observation were performed. Characterization of the nanocomposites shows that intercalated and partially exfoliated structures were generated by the melt blending method. Mechanical and rheological properties of the nanocomposites were measured respectively. For the mechanical properties, there were improvements in tensile strength and Young's modulus of the nanocomposites due to the reinforcement of nanoparticles. The rheological behaviors of the nanocomposites were significantly affected by the degree of the dispersion of the organoclay. The storage modulus of the nanocomposites was measured and the degree of the dispersion of the organoclay was evaluated from the value of the terminal slope of the storage modulus. In addition, the quantity of the shear necessary for making the nanocomposite for melt intercalation method was estimated from the relationship between the value of the terminal slope of the storage modulus and the applied shear.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2005

Biodegradable nanocomposites were prepared by mixing a polymer resin and layered silicates by the melt intercalation method. Internal structure of the nanocomposite was characterized by using the small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Nanocomposites having exfoliated and intercalated structures were obtained by employing two different organically modified nanoclays. Rheological properties in shear and extensional flows and biodegradability of nanocomposites were measured. In shear flow, shear thinning behavior and increased storage modulus were observed as the clay loading increased. In extensional flow, strain hardening behavior was observed in well dispersed system. Nanocomposites with the exfoliated structure had better biodegradability than nanocomposites with the intercalated structure or pure polymer.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2006

In the present work, low density polyethylene (LDPE)/aliphatic polyester (APES)/organoclay ternary nanocomposites were prepared. In particular, the effect of a compatibilizer, polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAH), on the morphology and properties of the ternary nanocomposites was investigated. LDPE/APES/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared through melt intercalation method using two different kinds of organoclay. The dispersibility of silicate clays in the nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The ternary nanocomposites showed higher tensile properties than the LDPE/APES blend did. The dispersibility and properties of nanocomposites containing Cloisite 30B were better than those of the nanocomposites containing Cloisite 20A. Unlike Cloisite 20A, hydroxyl groups in the intercalants in Cloisite 30B interlayer underwent a certain polar interaction with the carboxyl group of APES, favoring the intercalation of APES chains and the formation of LDPE/APES/Closite 30B nanocomposites. However, the introduction of the polar hydroxyl groups also enhanced the interaction with the silicate surface at the same time, thereby rendering somewhat difficult the replacement of the surface contacts by LDPE chains, and impeding the extensive intercalation and further exfoliation of Cloisite 30B in the LDPE/APES matrix. The compatibilizer enhanced the intercalation of the polymer chain inside the clay gallery and thus improved the mechanical properties of the ternary nanocomposites. Rheological measurements of the nanocomposites via frequency sweep experiment indicated a certain interaction between the clay platelet and the polymer molecules in the melted state.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.251-263
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• 2015

Scaffolds play a crucial role in the tissue engineering. Biodegradable polymers with great processing flexibility and biocompatability are predominant scaffolding materials. New developments in biodegradable polymers and their nanocomposites for the tissue engineering are discussed. Recent development in the scaffold designs that mimic nano and micro features of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of bones, cartilages, and vascular vessels are presented as well.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.691-709
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• 2007

Concerns on environmental waste problems caused by non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic packaging materials as well as consumer's demand for high quality food products has caused an increasing interest in developing biodegradable packaging materials using annually renewable natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides and proteins. However, inherent shortcomings of natural polymer-based packaging materials such as low mechanical properties and low water resistance are causing a major limitation for their industrial use. By the way, recent advent of nanocomposite technology rekindled interests on the use of natural biopolymers in the food packaging application. Polymer nanocomposites, especially natural biopolymer-layered silicate nanocomposites, exhibit markedly improved packaging properties due to their nanometer size dispersion. These improvements include increased mechanical strength, decreased gas permeability, and increased water resistance. Additionally, biologically active ingredients can be added to impart the desired functional properties to the resulting packaging materials. Consequently, natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite packaging materials with bio-functional properties have huge potential for application in the active food packaging industry. In this review, recent advances in the preparation and characterization of natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite films, and their potential use in food packaging applications are addressed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2017

Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified with epoxy and aminosilane diethanolamine (DEA), and nanocomposites of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and the modified MWCNTs were prepared with the aim of improving the physical properties of biodegradable PBAT. The physical and the thermal properties of the PBAT/MWCNT nanocomposites were investigated using various techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements revealed that the MWCNTs were efficiently modified with DEA. Scanning electron micrographs of the nanocomposites indicated that the modified MWCNTs were dispersed homogeneously in PBAT. The thermal stability of the nanocomposite decreased with increase in the content of epoxy-MWCNT-DEA due to the poor thermal stabilities of epoxy and amino silane DEA. However, the surface hydrophobicity of the nanocomposite increased. The highest stress (170% of PBAT) was observed when the content of epoxy-MWCNT-DEA in the nanocomposite was 2 wt%.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.145-164
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• 2015

Biodegredable and injectable nanocomposites based on polypropylene fumarate (PPF) as unsaturated polyester were prepared. The investigated polyester was crosslinked with three different monomers namely N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a mixture of NVP and MMA (1:1 weight ratio) and was filled with 45 wt% of hydroxyapatite (HA) incorporated with different concentrations of chemically treated natural bone powder (NBP) (5, 10 and 15 wt%) in order to be used in treatment of orthopedics bone diseases and fractures. The nanocomposites immersed in the simulated body fluid (SBF) for 30 days, after the period of immersion in-vitro bioactivity of the nanocomposites was studied through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) in addition to dielectric measurements. The degradation time of immersed samples and the change in the pH of the SBF were studied during the period of immersion.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.401-409
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• 2013

BBiodegradable polymers have attracted great attention because of the increased environmental pollution by waste plastics. In this study, PLA (polylactic acid)/Clay-20 (Cloisite 20) and PLA (polylactic acid)/PBS (poly(butylene succinate)/Clay-20 (Cloisite 20) nanocomposites were manufactured in a twin-screw extruder. Specimens for mechanical properties of PLA/Clay-20 and PLA/PBS (90/10)/Clay-20 nanocomposites were prepared by injection molding. Thermal, mechanical, morphological and raman spectral properties of two nanocomposites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile tester, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and raman-microscope spectrophotometer, respectively. In addition, hydrolytic degradation properties of two nanocomposites were investigated by hydrolytic degradation test. It was confirmed that the crystallinity of PLA/Clay-20 and PLA/PBS/Clay-20 nanocomposite was increased with increasing Clay-20 content and the Clay-20 is miscible with PLA and PLA/PBS resin from DSC and SEM results. Tensile strength of two nanocomposites was decreased, but thier elongation, impact strength, tensile modulus and flexural modulus were increased with an increase of Clay-20 content. The impact strength of PLA/Clay-20 and PLA/PBS/Clay-20 nanocomposites with 5 wt% of Clay-20 content was increased above twice than that of pure PLA and PLA/PBS (90/10). The hydrolytic degradation rate of PLA/Clay-20 nanocomposite with 3 wt% of Clay-20 content was accelerated about twice than that of pure PLA. The reason is that degradation may occur in the PLA and Clay-20 interface easily because of hydrophilic property of organic Clay-20. It was confirmed that a proper amount of Clay-20 can improve the mechanical properties of PLA and can control biodegradable property of PLA.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.157-161
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• 2011

For the fabrication of multifunctional biopolymer nanocomposites in the combination of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), recently increasing attention has been paid to an effective homogenization of CNTs within polymer matrices and a fine tuning of the concentration. We developed an efficient method to produce homogeneous CNT-polycaprolactone nanocomposites with various and controllable CNT concentrations using an ionically-modified multi-walled CNT, MWCNT-Cl. The modified MWCNTs could be homogeneously dispersed in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Polycaprolactone (PCL) as a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer was smoothly dissolved in the homogeneous MWCNT-Cl/THF solution without agglomeration of MWCNT-Cl. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the resultant nanocomposites were examined and the biological usefulness was briefly assessed.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.357-357
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• 2006

Many industrial sources of proteins can be used as raw materials to produce films, molded materials, and various hollow items either by "casting" techniques or by "thermoplastic processing". Combining proteins with natural fibbers, paper or biodegradable polyesters is very promising to form biodegradable composites witch take advantage of the barrier and mechanical properties of each component. Using nano-fillers to form nanocomposites has also been shown to be interesting to improve properties. Production, with low transformation cost, of protein based materials to form biodegradable materials with controlled functional properties for food uses, medical uses, packaging, agriculture, controlled release systems, etc. is discussed.