title: "Green" nanocomposites from cellulose acetate bioplastic and clay: effect of eco-friendly triethyl citrate plasticizer.
abstract: "Green" nanocomposites have been successfully fabricated from cellulose acetate (CA) powder, eco-friendly triethyl citrate (TEC) plasticizer and organically modified clay. The effect of the amount of plasticizer varying from 15 to 40 wt % on the performance of the nanocomposites has been evaluated. The morphologies of these nanocomposites were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites are correlated with the XRD and TEM observations. Cellulosic plastic-based nanocomposites with 20 wt % TEC plasticizer and 5 wt % organoclay showed better intercalation and an exfoliated structure than the counterpart having 30/40 wt % plasticizers. The tensile strength, modulus and thermal stability of cellulosic plastic reinforced with organoclay showed a decreasing trend with an increase of plasticizer content from 20 to 40 wt %. The nano-reinforcement at the lower volume fractions (phi < or = 0.02) reduced the water vapor permeability of cellulosic plastic by 2 times and the relative permeability better fits with larger platelet aspect ratios (alpha = 150).
authors.affiliation: Composite Materials and Structures Center, 2100 Engineering Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Hwan-Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Manjusri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.forename: Lawrence T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Drzal
authors.forename: Amar K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mohanty
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002951:Citrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077215:Clay; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010968:Plasticizers; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002951:Citrates; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D010968:Plasticizers; D010969:Plastics; D014867:Water; C005062:acetylcellulose; C023001:ethyl citrate; D002482:Cellulose; D000077215:Clay