Effect of the biopolymer charge and the nanoclay morphology on nanocomposite materials

Abstract

This work represents a contribution to the design, preparation, and characterization of nanocomposite materials based on biocompatible components. The effects of composition, filler geometry, and polymer charge were highlighted, and their role on the final properties of the nanocomposites was revealed. We combined some biopolymers (methylcellulose, alginate, chitosan) with two nanoclays (kaolinite sheets and halloysite nanotubes) to prepare nanocomposites by means of the casting method from water. The thermal stability, the surface wettability, and the mechanical properties of the obtained films were studied. SEM micrographs highlighted the surface morphology of the biocomposite materials. X-ray data allowed us to correlate the mesoscopic structure to the properties of these nanocomposites.