| Evaluating the Effects of Different Plasticizers on Mechanical Properties of Starch/ Clay Nanocomposites |
| Paper ID : 2354-UFGNSM13-FULL (R1) |
| Authors: |
| Abstract: |
| Nano-biocomposites are a new class of hybrid materials composed of nano-sized filler (nanofiller) incorporated into a bio-based matrix. Such an association between eco-friendly biopolymers and nano-objects, with the aim to obtain synergic effects, is one of the most innovating routes to enhance the properties of these bio-matrices. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in Starch as an inexpensive and renewable source has been used as a filler for environmentally friendly plastics for about two decades. However, the poor mechanical properties of starch based biopolymers, leads to use of nanoparticles as reinforcing materials. In the present study, the influence of a combination of a novel plasticizer (formamide) and a traditional plasticizer (glycerol) on the mechanical characteristic of the TPS (thermoplastic starch)-nanoclay compounds has been investigated and the results were compared with thermoplastic starches plasticized by glycerol only. The biodegradable nanocomposites were produced via melt extrusion processing and the samples for mechanical properties were originated by injection molding. The tests performed after two weeks keeping the samples in polyethylene bags. In this study, tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's Modulus were evaluated. Furthermore, the morphologies of samples were studied using a transmission optical microscope. This research showed that using a combination of glycerol and formamide reduce the Young's Modulus and improve the flexibility which can be useful in some applications. |
| Keywords: |
| starch, nanocomposite, plasticizer, mechanical properties |
| Status : Paper Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
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