scholarly journals Biopolymer Nanocomposite Materials Based on Poly(L-lactic Acid) and Inorganic Fullerene-like WS2 Nanoparticles

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 2947
Author(s):  
Mohammed Naffakh

In the current study, inorganic fullerene (IF)-like tungsten disulphide (WS2) nanoparticles from layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) were introduced into a poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) polymer matrix to generate novel bionanocomposite materials through an advantageous melt-processing route. The effectiveness of employing IF-WS2 on the morphology and property enhancement of the resulting hybrid nanocomposites was evaluated. The non-isothermal melt–crystallization and melting measurements revealed that the crystallization and melting temperature as well as the crystallinity of PLLA were controlled by the cooling rate and composition. The crystallization behaviour and kinetics were examined by using the Lui model. Moreover, the nucleating effect of IF-WS2 was investigated in terms of Gutzow and Dobreva approaches. It was discovered that the incorporation of increasing IF-WS2 contents led to a progressive acceleration of the crystallization rate of PLLA. The morphology and kinetic data demonstrate the high performance of these novel nanocomposites for industrial applications.

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2214
Author(s):  
Mohammed Naffakh ◽  
Pablo Rica ◽  
Carmen Moya-Lopez ◽  
José Antonio Castro-Osma ◽  
Carlos Alonso-Moreno ◽  
...  

In the present work, hybrid nanocomposite materials were obtained by a solution blending of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and layered transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) based on tungsten disulfide nanosheets (2D-WS2) as a filler, varying its content between 0 and 1 wt%. The non-isothermal cold- and melt-crystallization and melting behavior of PLLA/2D-WS2 were investigated. The overall crystallization rate, final crystallinity, and subsequent melting behavior of PLLA were controlled by both the incorporation of 2D-WS2 and variation of the cooling/heating rates. In particular, the analysis of the cold-crystallization behavior of the PLLA matrix showed that the crystallization rate of PLLA was reduced after nanosheet incorporation. Unexpectedly for polymer nanocomposites, a drastic change from retardation to promotion of crystallization was observed with increasing the nanosheet content, while the melt-crystallization mechanism of PLLA remained unchanged. On the other hand, the double-melting peaks, mainly derived from melting–recrystallization–melting processes upon heating, and their dynamic behavior were coherent with the effect of 2D-WS2 involved in the crystallization of PLLA. Therefore, the results of the present study offer a new perspective for the potential of PLLA/hybrid nanocomposites in targeted applications.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2699
Author(s):  
Mohammed Naffakh ◽  
Miriam Fernández ◽  
Peter S. Shuttleworth ◽  
Ana M. García ◽  
Diego A. Moreno

Layered transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) based on tungsten disulfide nanosheets (2D-WS2) were introduced via melt processing into poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) to generate PLLA/2D-WS2 nanocomposite materials. The effects of the 2D-WS2 on the morphology, crystallization, and biodegradation behavior of PLLA were investigated. In particular, the non-isothermal melt-crystallization of neat PLLA and PLLA/2D-WS2 nanocomposites were analyzed in detail by varying both the cooling rate and 2D-WS2 loading. The kinetic parameters of PLLA chain crystallization are successfully described using the Liu model. It was found that the PLLA crystallization rate was reduced with 2D-WS2 incorporation, while the crystallization mechanism and crystal structure of PLLA remained unchanged in spite of nanoparticle loading. This was due to the PLLA chains not being able to easily adsorb on the WS2 nanosheets, hindering crystal growth. In addition, from surface morphology analysis, it was observed that the addition of 2D-WS2 facilitated the enzymatic degradation of poorly biodegradable PLLA using a promising strain of actinobacteria, Lentzea waywayandensis. The identification of more suitable enzymes to break down PLLA nanocomposites will open up new avenues of investigation and development, and it will also lead to more environmentally friendly, safer, and economic routes for bioplastic waste management.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2179
Author(s):  
Mohammed Naffakh

Novel multifunctional biopolymer blend nanocomposites composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF) and tungsten disulfide nanotubes (INT-WS2) that are layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) were easily prepared by applying an economical, scalable, and versatile melt processing route. Furthermore, their synergistic effect to enhance the properties of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) matrix was investigated. From morphological analysis, it was shown that the incorporation of 1D (INT)-WS2 into the immiscible PLLA/PVDF mixtures (weight ratios: 80/20, 60/40, 40/60, and 20/80) led to an improvement in the dispersibility of the PVDF phase, a reduction in its average domain size, and consequently a larger interfacial area. In addition, the nanoparticles INT-WS2 can act as effective nucleating agents and reinforcing fillers in PLLA/PVDF blends, and as such, greatly improve their thermal and dynamic-mechanical properties. The improvements are more pronounced in the ternary blend nanocomposites with the lowest PVDF content, likely due to a synergistic effect of both highly crystalline PVDF and 1D-TMDCs nano-additives on the matrix performance. Considering the promising properties of the developed materials, the inexpensive synthetic process, and the extraordinary properties of environmentally friendly and biocompatibe 1D-TMDCs WS2, this work may open up opportunities to produce new PLLA/PVDF hybrid nanocomposites that show great potential for biomedical applications.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gi Hong Kim ◽  
Sung Wook Hwang ◽  
Bich Nam Jung ◽  
DongHo Kang ◽  
Jin Kie Shim ◽  
...  

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a relatively brittle polymer, and its low melt strength, ductility, and thermal stability limit its use in various industrial applications. This study aimed to investigate the effect of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and PMMA/silica hybrid particles on the mechanical properties, interfacial adhesion, and crystallization behavior of PLA/block acrylic elastomer. PLA/block acrylic elastomer blends exhibit improved flexibility; however, phase separation occurs between PLA and block acrylic elastomer domains. Valid time-temperature superposition (TTS) measurements of viscoelastic behavior were obtained and exhibited interfacial adhesion with the addition of PMMA or PMMA/silica in PLA/block acrylic elastomer blends. In particular, the phase separation temperature was increased by the incorporation of PMMA/silica hybrid particles, which suggests a potential role for these particles in improving the phase stability. In addition, PMMA inhibits crystallization, while PMMA/silica acts as a nucleating agent, thus increasing the crystallization rate and crystallinity degree.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1569-1574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-Hua Cai

Crystallization and melting behavior of Poly(L-lactic acid)(PLLA)/Talc composites with different talc content were investigated in detail. The addition of talc can increase the overall crystallization rate of PLLA, 5%talc makes the melt-crystallization peak temperature of PLLA increase from 96.28 °C to 105.22 °C, and the crystallization enthalpy increases from 1.379 J•g-1to 28.99 J•g-1. The melting behavior of PLLA/5%talc composites at a different heating rate during non-isothermal crystallization at different cooling rate shows that heating rate can affect the melting behavior of PLLA, with increasing of heating rate, the double melting peak degenerates to single melting peak. Melting behavior after isothermal crystallization and after cold isothermal crystallization and hot isothermal crystallization indicates that the double-melting peak of PLLA/5%talc composites results from melting-recrystallization.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Singer ◽  
Philipp Siedlaczek ◽  
Gerhard Sinn ◽  
Harald Rennhofer ◽  
Matej Mičušík ◽  
...  

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) provide an outstanding property spectrum which can be used to improve a wide range of materials. However, the transfer of properties from the nanoscale to a macroscopic material is a limiting factor. Different approaches of functionalizing the surface of a CNT can improve the interaction with the surrounding matrix but is connected to difficult and expensive treatments, which are usually inconvenient for industrial applications. Here, a simple and eco-friendly method is presented for the oxidation of CNT, where hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is the only chemical needed and no toxic emissions are released. Also, the extensive step of the incorporation of CNT to an epoxy matrix is simplified to an ultrasonic dispersion in the liquid hardener component. The effectiveness is proven by mechanical tests of produced CNT/CFRP and compared to a conventional processing route. The combination of those simple and cost efficient strategies can be utilized to produce multiscale composites with improved mechanical performance in an ecological and economical way.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Jiunn-Jer Hwang ◽  
Su-Mei Huang ◽  
Wen-Yang Lin ◽  
Hsin-Jiant Liu ◽  
Cheng-Chan Chuang ◽  
...  

This study makes use of polycondensation to produce poly (L-lactic acid)-(polyethylene glycols), a biodegradable copolymer, then puts it with organically modified montmorillonite (o-MMT) going through an intercalation process to produce a series of nanocomposites of PLLA-PEG/o-MMT. The exfoliation and intercalation of the montmorillonite-layered structure could be found through X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The lower the molecular weight of poly (ethylene glycol), the more obvious the exfoliation and dispersion. The nanocomposites were investigated under non-isothermal crystallization and isothermal crystallization separately via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). After the adding of o-MMT to PLLA-PEG copolymers, it was found that the PLLA-PEG nanocomposites crystallized slowly and the crystallization peak tended to become broader during the non-isothermal crystallization process. Furthermore, the thermal curve of the non-isothermal melt crystallization process of PLLA-PEG copolymers with different proportions of o-MMT showed that the melting point decreased gradually with the increase of o-MMT content. In the measurement of isothermal crystallization, increasing the o-MMT of the PLLA-PEG copolymers would increase the t1/2 (crystallization half time) for crystallization and decrease the value of ΔHc. However, the present study results suggest that adding o-MMT could affect the crystallization rate of PLLA-PEG copolymers. The o-MMT silicate layer was uniformly dispersed in the PLLA-PEG copolymers, forming a nucleating agent. The crystallization rate and the regularity of the crystals changed with the increase of the o-MMT content, which further affected the crystallization enthalpies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 333-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Castro-Aguirre ◽  
F. Iñiguez-Franco ◽  
H. Samsudin ◽  
X. Fang ◽  
R. Auras

Author(s):  
Yoobeen Lee ◽  
Jin Won Jung ◽  
Jin Seok Lee

The reduction of intrinsic defects, including vacancies and grain boundaries, remains one of the greatest challenges to produce high-performance transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) electronic systems. A deeper comprehension of the...


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 700
Author(s):  
Muhamad Hasfanizam Mat Yazik ◽  
Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan ◽  
Mohammad Jawaid ◽  
Abd Rahim Abu Talib ◽  
Norkhairunnisa Mazlan ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study has been to evaluate the effect of hybridization of montmorillonite (MMT) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on the thermal and viscoelastic properties of shape memory epoxy polymer (SMEP) nanocomposites. In this study, ultra-sonication was utilized to disperse 1%, 3%, and 5% MMT in combination with 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% MWCNT into the epoxy system. The fabricated SMEP hybrid nanocomposites were characterized via differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The storage modulus (E’), loss modulus (E”), tan δ, decomposition temperature, and decomposition rate, varied upon the addition of the fillers. Tan δ indicated a reduction of glass transition temperature (Tg) for all the hybrid SMEP nanocomposites. 3% MMT/1% MWCNT displayed best overall performance compared to other hybrid filler concentrations and indicated a better mechanical property compared to neat SMEP. These findings open a way to develop novel high-performance composites for various potential applications, such as morphing structures and actuators, as well as biomedical devices.


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