How can Nanohybrids Enhance Polyester/Sepiolite Nanocomposite Properties?

✍ Scribed by Emmanuel Duquesne; Sébastien Moins; Michaël Alexandre; Philippe Dubois

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 331 KB
• Volume: 208
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1352
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.200700335

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

PCL/sepiolite (nano)composites are prepared by melt blending in a twin‐screw mini‐extruder, and PCL/sepiolite nanohybrids are synthesized by ROP of ε‐CL. The nanohybrids have been used as masterbatches and dispersed in a commercial PCL matrix. Composites with 3 wt.‐% nanofiller were prepared and characterized thermally, mechanically, and morphologically. Sepiolite addition has a profound effect on the mechanical properties of the PCL/sepiolite nanocomposites. Sepiolite disperses well in PCL, which leads to a significant increase in Young's modulus. The use of a PCL nanohybrid as masterbatch further improves the stiffness but also the toughness of the material in the elastic range.

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