Enhancement of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Blend by Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 10 April 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Vol. 13 (4), 4508-4522
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms13044508
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles on the mechanical and thermal properties and surface morphology of polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan nanocomposites. The nanocomposites of PCL/chitosan/CaCO3 were prepared using a melt blending technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicate the average size of nanoparticles to be approximately 62 nm. Tensile measurement results show an increase in the tensile modulus with CaCO3 nanoparticle loading. Tensile strength and elongation at break show gradual improvement with the addition of up to 1 wt% of nano-sized CaCO3. Decreasing performance of these properties is observed for loading of more than 1 wt% of nano-sized CaCO3. The thermal stability was best enhanced at 1 wt% of CaCO3 nanoparticle loading. The fractured surface morphology of the PCL/chitosan blend becomes more stretched and homogeneous in PCL/chitosan/CaCO3 nanocomposite. TEM micrograph displays good dispersion of CaCO3 at lower nanoparticle loading within the matrix.This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- Amorphous calcium carbonate in form of spherical nanosized particles and its application as fillers for polymersMaterials Science and Engineering: A, 2008
- Phase structure and mechanical properties of ternary polypropylene/elastomer/nano-CaCO3 compositesComposites Science and Technology, 2007
- Evaluation of dispersion of nano-CaCO3 particles in polypropylene matrix based on fractal methodComposites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2007
- Rheological and mechanical properties of PVC/CaCO3 nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerizationPolymer, 2004
- Effects of different kinds of clay and different vinyl acetate content on the morphology and properties of EVA/clay nanocompositesPolymer, 2003
- Toughening of polypropylene with calcium carbonate particlesPolymer, 2003
- Thermal and morphological characterization of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/calcium carbonate nanocompositesJournal of Materials Science, 2002
- Polymer–clay nanocomposites: exfoliation of organophilic montmorillonite nanolayers in polystyrenePolymer, 2001
- Toughness mechanism in semi-crystalline polymer blends: II. High-density polyethylene toughened with calcium carbonate filler particlesPolymer, 1999
- Surface treatments for particulate fillers in plasticsPolymer Science and Technology Series, 1998