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Preparation and characterization of chitosan/α‐zirconium phosphate nanocomposite films
Author(s) -
Wu Haixia,
Liu Changhua,
Chen Jianguang,
Yang Yajuan,
Chen Yun
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2807
Subject(s) - nanocomposite , materials science , zirconium phosphate , chitosan , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , scanning electron microscope , polymer , casting , chemical engineering , phosphate , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Nano‐fillers play an important role in the final structure and properties of nanocomposites. The objective of the work presented here was to prepare nanocomposite films of chitosan/α‐zirconium phosphate using a casting process, with α‐zirconium phosphate (α‐ZrP) as nano‐filler and chitosan as matrix. The effects of α‐ZrP on the structure and properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. X‐ray diffraction patterns showed that α‐ZrP crystals were intercalated by n ‐butylamine. The results from scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy indicated that α‐ZrP could be uniformly dispersed in the chitosan matrix when α‐ZrP loading in the composites was less than 2 wt%. A strong interaction between α‐ZrP and chitosan formed during the film‐forming process. Tensile testing showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of nanocomposite films achieved maximum values of 61.6 MPa and 58.1%, respectively, when α‐ZrP loading was 2 wt%. The parameter B calculated from tensile yield stress according to the Pukanszky model was used to estimate the interfacial interaction between the chitosan matrix and α‐ZrP. Films with a loading of 2 wt% α‐ZrP had the highest B value (3.2), indicating the strongest interfacial interaction. The moisture uptake of the nanocomposites was reduced with addition of α‐ZrP. It can be concluded that α‐ZrP as nano‐filler in a chitosan matrix can enhance the mechanical properties of nanocomposites due to the strong interactions between α‐ZrP and chitosan. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry