Open Access
ARTICLE
Processing and Characterization of Nano-biocomposites Based on Mater-Bi® with Layered Silicates
A. Terenzi1, A. Iannoni1, L. Torre1, A. Jiménez2,*, J.M. Kenny1
1
University of Perugia, UdR INSTM, Loc. Pentima Bassa 21,05100 Terni, Italy
2
University of Alicante, Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, P.O. Box 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain
* Corresponding Author:
Journal of Renewable Materials 2014, 2(1), 42-51. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2014.634101
Received 18 February 2014; Accepted 18 February 2014;
Abstract
The development of new nano-biocomposites has been one of the main research areas of interest in
polymer science in recent years, since they can combine the intrinsic biodegradable nature of matrices
with the ability to modify their properties by the addition of selected nano-reinforcements. In this work,
the addition of mineral nanoclays (montmorillonites and sepiolites) to a commercial starch-based matrix is
proposed. A complete study on their processing by melt-intercalation techniques and further evaluation of
the main properties of nano-biocomposites has been carried out. The results reported show an important
infl uence of the nano-biocomposites morphology on their fi nal properties. In particular, the rheological and
viscoelastic characteristics of these systems are very sensitive to the dispersion level of the nanofi ller, but
it is possible to assess that the material processing behaviour is not compromised by the presence of these
nano-reinforcements. In general, both nanofi llers had a positive infl uence in the materials fi nal properties.
Mechanical performance shows improvements in terms of elastic modulus, without important limitations
in terms of ductility. Thermal properties are improved in terms of residual mass after degradation and low
improvements are also observed in terms of oxygen barrier properties.
Keywords
Cite This Article
APA Style
Terenzi, A., Iannoni, A., Torre, L., Jiménez, A., Kenny, J. (2014). Processing and characterization of nano-biocomposites based on mater-bi<sup>®</sup> with layered silicates. Journal of Renewable Materials, 2(1), 42-51. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2014.634101
Vancouver Style
Terenzi A, Iannoni A, Torre L, Jiménez A, Kenny J. Processing and characterization of nano-biocomposites based on mater-bi<sup>®</sup> with layered silicates. J Renew Mater. 2014;2(1):42-51 https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2014.634101
IEEE Style
A. Terenzi, A. Iannoni, L. Torre, A. Jiménez, and J. Kenny "Processing and Characterization of Nano-biocomposites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> with Layered Silicates," J. Renew. Mater., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 42-51. 2014. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2014.634101