title: Brucite nanoplates reinforced starch bionanocomposites.
abstract: In this paper the mechanical reinforcement of nano-sized brucite, Mg(OH)(2) in a series of bionanocomposite films based on starch was investigated. Brucite nanoplates with an aspect ratio of 9.25 were synthesized by wet precipitation and incorporated into starch matrices at different concentrations (0-7.5 wt.%). Scanning electron microscopy revealed a high degree of nanoplate dispersion within the starch bionanocomposites and good interfacial adhesion between the filler and matrix. The brucite nanoplates formed agglomerates at high concentrations. The reinforcement factor values of the bionanocomposites were higher than the values predicted from the Halphin-Tsai model, which was attributed mainly to the high surface area of the nanoplates. Brucite (1 wt.%) nearly doubled the elastic modulus of starch films. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated some interaction between starch and the brucite that modified their decomposition profiles. Mechanical tests of glycerol plasticized bionanocomposites showed that the reinforcing efficiency of brucite remained high even at 10 wt.% and 20 wt.% of plasticizer.
authors: Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia para o Agronegócio (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentação (CNPDIA), São Carlos (SP), Brazil.
authors: Francys K V
authors: FK
authors: Moreira
authors: Daniel C A
authors: DC
authors: Pedro
authors: Gregory M
authors: GM
authors: Glenn
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Marconcini
authors: Luiz H C
authors: LH
authors: Mattoso
mesh_terms: D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D013213:Starch; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide; D005990:Glycerol