title: Preparation and characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate/polycaprolactone nanocomposites.
abstract: Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)/polycaprolactone (PCL)/stearate Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites were prepared via solution casting intercalation method. Coprecipitation method was used to prepare the anionic clay Mg-Al LDH from nitrate salt solution. Modification of nitrate anions by stearate anions between the LDH layers via ion exchange reaction. FTIR spectra showed the presence of carboxylic acid (COOH) group which indicates that stearate anions were successfully intercalated into the Mg-Al LDH. The formation of nanocomposites only involves physical interaction as there are no new functional groups or new bonding formed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the mixtures of nanocomposites are intercalated and exfoliated types. XRD results showed increasing of basal spacing from 8.66 to 32.97 Å in modified stearate Mg-Al LDH, and TEM results revealed that the stearate Mg-Al LDH layers are homogeneously distributed in the PHB/PCL polymer blends matrix. Enhancement in 300% elongation at break and 66% tensile strength in the presence of 1.0 wt % of the stearate Mg-Al LDH as compare with PHB/PCL blends. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved that clay improves compatibility between polymer matrix and the best ratio 80PHB/20PCL/1stearate Mg-Al LDH surface is well dispersed and stretched before it breaks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Cha Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Liau
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mansor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bin Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia ; Nanotechnology and Advance Materials Department, Materials & Energy Research Center, Alborz, Karaj 31787/316, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shameli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Centre for Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Md Zin Wan
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Yunus
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Azowa
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5400-2819
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norhazlin
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3536-7614
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zainuddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yoon Yee
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7861-1990
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Then
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013718:Tensile Strength; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D000535:Aluminum; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D008274:Magnesium; D011091:Polyesters; D013229:Stearic Acids; C016240:polycaprolactone; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates; C031183:stearic acid