Handbook of Composites from Renewable Materials, Nanocomposites

Advanced Applications

Vijay Kumar Thakur, Manju Kumari Thakur, Michael R. Kessler, Vijay Kumar Thakur, Manju Kumari Thakur, Michael R. Kessler

• Publisher: Wiley-Scrivener
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781119224488
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technologie et ingénierie
• Subtopic: Ingénierie de la chimie et de la biochimie

This unique multidisciplinary 8-volume set focuses on the emerging issues concerning synthesis, characterization, design, manufacturing and various other aspects of composite materials from renewable materials and provides a shared platform for both researcher and industry.

The Handbook of Composites from Renewable Materials comprises a set of 8 individual volumes that brings an interdisciplinary perspective to accomplish a more detailed understanding of the interplay between the synthesis, structure, characterization, processing, applications and performance of these advanced materials. The Handbook comprises 169 chapters from world renowned experts covering a multitude of natural polymers/ reinforcement/ fillers and biodegradable materials.

Volume 8 is solely focused on the Nanocomposites: Advanced Applications. Some of the important topics include but not limited to: Virgin and recycled polymers applied to advanced nanocomposites; biodegradable polymer–carbon nanotube composites for water and wastewater treatment; eco-friendly nanocomposites of chitosan with natural extracts, antimicrobial agents, and nanometals; controllable generation of renewable nanofibrils from green materials and their application in nanocomposites; nanocellulose and nanocellulose composites; poly(lactic acid) biopolymer composites and nanocomposites for biomedical and biopackaging applications; impact of nanotechnology in water treatment: carbon nanotube and graphene; nanomaterials in energy generation; sustainable green nanocomposites from bacterial bioplastics for food-packaging applications; PLA nanocomposites: a promising material for future from renewable resources; biocomposites from renewable resources: preparation and applications of chitosan–clay nanocomposites; nanomaterials: an advanced and versatile nanoadditive for kraft and paper industries; composites and nanocomposites based on polylactic acid obtaining; cellulose-containing scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning: applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery; biopolymer-based nanocomposites for environmental applications; calcium phosphate nanocomposites for biomedical and dental applications: recent developments; chitosan–metal nanocomposites: synthesis, characterization, and applications; multi-carboxyl functionalized nanocellulose/nanobentonite composite for the effective removal and recovery of metal ions; biomimetic gelatin nanocomposite as a scaffold for bone tissue repair; natural starches-blended ionotropically gelled microparticles/beads for sustained drug release and ferrogels: smart materials for biomedical and remediation applications.

Chapter 1
Virgin and Recycled Polymers Applied to Advanced Nanocomposites

Luis Claudio Mendes* and Sibele Piedade Cestari

Instituto de Macromoléculas Professora Eloisa Mano – IMA, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

^*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The study and development of nanostructured polymers is an expanding field. New strategies on advanced polymeric nanocomposites and hybrid materials have been created, to be used in different areas. Nanocomposites can improve characteristics of virgin and recycled polymers; they can also resemble biomaterials for medical or drug delivery applications. We studied some neat and modified materials that are seldom used as filler in nanocomposites – zinc oxide and zirconium phosphate – and added it to recycled polymers matrices – polycarbonate and poly(ethylene terephthalate). The use of nanoscaled fillers in polymer composites can improve properties like morphology, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, mechanical performance, crystallinity, and molecular mobility. Advanced nanocomposites can actually improve the effectiveness, sustainability, and performance of materials.

Keywords: Polymers, nanocomposites, advanced materials, recycling, sustainability

1.1 Introduction

Definitely, nanoscience and nanotechnology entered our lives in order to bring benefits for society. In particular, researches on polymeric nanocomposites intend to create solutions for daily problems. Polymeric nanocomposites can be considered advanced and sustainable composites. These materials are expanding. Several new strategies for developing advanced polymeric nanocomposites and hybrid (nanocomposites/microcomposites) have been created, in order to be used in many different areas (Thakur et al., 2012a,b; 2014a,b). Due to the high aspect ratio of the disperse phase, the properties are improved with low filler content. The disperse phase may resemble leaves – nanolayers – where only one dimension is in nanoscale; have the shape of nanotubes – two dimensions are in the nanometer range; and finally be a nanoparticle – three dimensions are on the nanometric scale. In polymeric nanocomposites, polymer – virgin, recycled, and renewable – is the phase that allows the incorporation and takes advantage of the properties which the nanosize substances can offer. Both academia and industry understand the importance of polymeric nanocomposites in the current state of society development.

Due to the similarities with the mineral constituents of bone tissue, enamel, and dentin of teeth, hydroxyapatite (HA) is an important class of biomaterial (Sato, Hotta et al., 2006; Fomin, Barinov et al., 2009; Brundavanam, Jiang et al., 2011). Besides immune response, other qualities – osteoinduction, osteoconductive, and osteointegration – indicate HA for using in medical or drug delivery devices. Biomimetic, hydrothermal, sol–gel, and precipitation processes have been studied as routes for producing collagen/HA composites for bone and dental repairs (Hilson, 1986; Orlovskii, Komlev et al., 2002; Ficai, Andronescu et al., 2010; Zhang, Tang et al., 2010). In order to prepare a collagen/HA nanocomposite as osteoinductive of the pulp–dentin complex, we investigated the influence of the presence of collagen (COLL) on structural and morphological characteristics (Mendes, Ribeiro et al., 2012).

Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis (Figures 1.1 and 1.2) of the materials showed that COLL has two stages of degradation. The first one (25–200 °C, 8%) was ascribed to the loss of water and the second one (270–500 °C, 65%) to the polymer chain degradation. The HA without collagen showed only one stage of degradation (150–235 °C) ascribed to the loss of water. In contrast, the HA synthesized with COLL showed two stages of degradation. The initial stage was similar to that of HA without collagen, and a second stage arose at higher temperatures (425–450 °C). We concluded that some chemical and/or physical interactions between components have happened, increasing the thermal stability of COLL (Sionkowska & Kozłowska, 2010).

Figure 1.1 TG curves of COLL, HA, and HA/COLL. (Reproduced with permission from L.C. Mendes, G.L. Ribeiro, and R.C. Marques, Materials Sciences and Applications, Materials Sciences & Applications, 2012, 3, 8. ©2012, Scientific Research.)

Figure 1.2 DTG curves of COLL, HA, and HA/COLL. (Reproduced with permission from L.C. Mendes, G.L. Ribeiro, and R.C. Marques, Materials Sciences and Applications, Materials Sciences & Applications, 2012, 3, 8. ©2...