Biopolymer‐Nanocomposites with Silica, Alumino‐Silicate and Graphene: Structural Characterization and Properties

Abstract

Summary: Mechanical, rheological and thermal properties of melt processes bionanocomposites of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and chitosan blends with 0-dimensional and 2-dimensional nanofillers were studied. The weight ratio of PBS and chitosan in the blend was optimized based on ease of processing, mixing quality and mechanical performance. The chitosan phase was observed to be dispersed as noncontinuous phase in PBS and enhanced it mechanical properties markedly. The fillers had different degrees of improvement in the mechanical performance with graphene exhibiting a maximum increase of > 225% in the Young's modulus at 10% filler content. The IR characterization also signaled toward chemical interactions between the polymer and graphene phases. Increasing the filler content had overall reduction in crystallinity.

Functional Polymer Nanocomposites with Graphene: A Review

“…Small amounts of graphene oxide platelets also facilitated the nucleation and overall crystallization of PA 46. Mittal et al prepared the nanocomposites of bio‐polyamide (PA) with varying amounts of graphene oxide by melt mixing. Free amide bonds in the amorphous phase of PA were observed to have a chemical reaction in the presence of graphene oxide.…”