title: Enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of polycaprolactone/chitosan blend by calcium carbonate nanoparticles.
abstract: This study investigates the effects of calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) nanoparticles on the mechanical and thermal properties and surface morphology of polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan nanocomposites. The nanocomposites of PCL/chitosan/CaCO(3) were prepared using a melt blending technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicate the average size of nanoparticles to be approximately 62 nm. Tensile measurement results show an increase in the tensile modulus with CaCO(3) nanoparticle loading. Tensile strength and elongation at break show gradual improvement with the addition of up to 1 wt% of nano-sized CaCO(3). Decreasing performance of these properties is observed for loading of more than 1 wt% of nano-sized CaCO(3). The thermal stability was best enhanced at 1 wt% of CaCO(3) nanoparticle loading. The fractured surface morphology of the PCL/chitosan blend becomes more stretched and homogeneous in PCL/chitosan/CaCO(3) nanocomposite. TEM micrograph displays good dispersion of CaCO(3) at lower nanoparticle loading within the matrix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sanaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdolmohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siyamak
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Azowa
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Centre For Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Md Zin Wan
authors.initials: WMZW
authors.lastname: Yunus
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohamad Zaki Ab
authors.initials: MZA
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fatehi
mesh_terms: D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D048271:Chitosan; D002119:Calcium Carbonate