Effect of a silicate filler on the crystal morphology of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/clay nanocomposites

Tapioca Starch-poly (lactic acid)-based Nanocomposite Foams as Affected by Type of Nanoclay

Tapioca starch (TS), poly (lactic acid) (PLA), and clay nanocomposite foams, with three clays (Cloisite 30B, Na+, and 20A), were prepared by melt-intercalation method. The structural, thermal, physical and mechanical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Instron universal testing machine, respectively. XRD results indicated that the intercalation of TS/PLA into the nanoclay layers occurred for all three clays. The extents of intercalation depended on the types of clay and were exhibited in the sequence of Cloisite 30B>Na+ > 20A. At the same time, a mixture of intercalation and tactoid phenomena was observed for the TS/PLA/Cloisite Na+ nanocomposite. SEM results indicated a decrease in cell size of the TS/PLA foam matrix with the addition of nanoclay and cells had hexagonal and pentagonal shapes. Melting temperature (Tm) decreased with the addition of clays into TS/PLA matrix. Expansion ratios of the nanocomposites were significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. TS/PLA/Cloisite Na+ nanocomposite had the highest expansion ratio of 20.9 compared to its TS/PLA/Cloisite 20A (9.65) and TS/PLA/Cloisite 30B counterparts (8.23). Addition of Cloisite Na+ resulted in the lowest unit density of 0.046 kg/m3, while no significant differences in unit density were observed for the foams with addition of Cloisite 30B and Cloisite 20A. Bulk spring index (BSI) was influenced significantly (p<0.05) with the addition of nanoclays into the TS/PLA matrix. TS/PLA/Cloisite Na+ nanocomposite had the lowest BSI of 0.936. The bulk compressibility was decreased from 14.1MPa for pure tapioca starch foam to 4.45MPa with the addition of PLA. The nanocomposite with Cloisite 30B showed the highest value of 17.4MPa, followed by those with Cloisite 20A (10.4MPa), and Cloisite Na+ (6.47MPa).

Study on Morphology, Rheology, and Mechanical Properties of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/CaCO3Nanocomposites

For preparing good performance polymer materials, poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/CaCO3nanocomposites were prepared and their morphology, rheological behavior, mechanical properties, heat distortion, and crystallization behaviors were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, capillary rheometer, universal testing machine, impact tester, heat distortion temperature tester, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The results suggest that the nano-CaCO3particles are dispersed uniformly in the polymer matrix. PTT/CaCO3nanocomposites are pseudoplastic fluids, and the CaCO3nanoparticles serve as a lubricant by decreasing the apparent viscosity of the nanocomposites; however, both the apparent viscosity and the pseudoplasticity of the nanocomposites increase with increasing CaCO3contents. The nanoparticles also have nucleation effects on PTT’s crystallization by increasing the crystallization rate and temperature; however, excessive nanoparticles will depress this effect because of the agglomeration of the particles. The mechanical properties suggest that the CaCO3nanoparticles have good effects on improving the impact strength and tensile strength with proper content of fillers. The nanofillers can greatly increase the heat distortion property of the nanocomposites.