Natural-Synthetic Hybrid Polymers Developed via Electrospinning: The Effect of PET in Chitosan/Starch System

Abstract

Chitosan is an amino polysaccharide found in nature, which is biodegradable, nontoxic and biocompatible. It has versatile features and can be used in a variety of applications including films, packaging, and also in medical surgery. Recently a possibility to diversify chitosan properties has emerged by combining it with synthetic materials to produce novel natural-synthetic hybrid polymers. We have studied structural and thermophysical properties of chitosan + starch + poly(ethylene terephthalate) (Ch + S + PET) fibers developed via electrospinning. Properties of these hybrids polymers are compared with extant chitosan containing hybrids synthesized by electrospinning. Molecular interactions and orientation in the fibers are analyzed by infrared and Raman spectroscopies respectively, morphology by scanning electron microscopy and thermophysical properties by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Addition of PET to Ch + S systems results in improved thermal stability at elevated temperatures.

Preparation of PLLA/PMMA and PLLA/PS binary blend nanoparticles by incorporation of PLLA in methyl methacrylate or styrene miniemulsion homopolymerization

“…Despite that, biopolymers such as polylactide (PLA) still face some application restrictions due to their poor mechanical and thermal properties, high crystallinity as well as poor processability and high cost when compared to petroleum-based polymers [6][7][8] .…”

All Green Composites from Fully Renewable Biopolymers: Chitosan-Starch Reinforced with Keratin from Feathers

“…The second step is from 220-360 °C, with mass decreasing from 8%-76%, this is associated with a complex process that includes dehydration of the saccharide rings, depolymerization and decomposition of the chitosan units [15,33]. The third step occurred from 450-600 °C with the greatest weight loss corresponding to complete degradation of the polymer [6,15,33]. The thermal behavior of the composites does not change significantly when keratin biofibers are included as reinforcement, the behavior of the thermal decomposition remains almost unaltered for all the composites when compared to the chitosan-starch curve (ChS).…”

“…TGA curves of the composites chitosan-starch/ground quill (ChS-GQ) are shown in Figure 9. The initial weight loss (7%) occurs from 40-150 °C and is caused by evaporation of water, while the second range (200-360 °C) with a weight loss of 10%-75% corresponds to a complex process including the dehydration of the saccharide rings, depolymerization, and decomposition of acetylated and deacetylated units of chitosan [6,15,33]. Also, this stage is associated with the destruction of disulfide bonds and the elimination of H 2 S originating from amino acid cysteine in keratin [17,34].…”

“…In addition this renewable biopolymer has important potential as a packaging polymer due to its ability to form films. Recently several developments involving chitosan and nanostructures were published [6][7][8], increasing the potential applications of this polysaccharide.…”

“…These polysaccharides have been studied combined with synthetic or natural polymers: starch-polyethylene [10], starch-henequen and starch-coconut [11], starch-poly(lactic acid), polyhydroxyester ether, or poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) [12], poly(vinyl alcohol)-chitosan [13], chitosan-poly(lactic acid) [14] as well as starch-chitosan [6,15,16].…”