title: Preparation and properties of novel melt-blended halloysite nanotubes/wheat starch nanocomposites.
abstract: Novel bionanocomposites based on halloysite nanotubes as nanofillers and plasticized starch as polymeric matrix were successfully prepared by melt-extrusion for the first time. Both modified and non modified halloysites were added at different weight contents. The structural, morphological, thermal and mechanical properties of plasticized starch/halloysites nanocomposites were investigated. Melt-compounding appears to be a suitable process to uniformly disperse nanotubes in the plasticized starch matrix. Interactions between plasticized starch and halloysites in the nanocomposites and microstructure modifications were monitored using Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical analysis. Addition of halloysite nanotubes slightly enhances the thermal stability of starch (onset temperature of degradation delayed to higher temperatures). The tensile mechanical properties of starch are also significantly improved (up to +144% for Young's modulus and up to +29% for strength) upon addition of both modified and unmodified halloysites, interestingly without loss of ductility. Modified halloysites lead to significantly higher Young's modulus than unmodified halloysites.
authors.affiliation: Ecole des Mines de Douai, Department of Polymers and Composites Technology & Mechanical Engineering, 941 rue Charles Bourseul, BP 10838, F-59508 Douai, France; Univ. Lille Nord de France, Lille, F-59000, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.affiliation: Ecole des Mines de Douai, Department of Polymers and Composites Technology & Mechanical Engineering, 941 rue Charles Bourseul, BP 10838, F-59508 Douai, France; Univ. Lille Nord de France, Lille, F-59000, France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prashantha
authors.affiliation: Ecole des Mines de Douai, Department of Polymers and Composites Technology & Mechanical Engineering, 941 rue Charles Bourseul, BP 10838, F-59508 Douai, France; Univ. Lille Nord de France, Lille, F-59000, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soulestin
authors.affiliation: Ecole des Mines de Douai, Department of Polymers and Composites Technology & Mechanical Engineering, 941 rue Charles Bourseul, BP 10838, F-59508 Douai, France; Univ. Lille Nord de France, Lille, F-59000, France.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lacrampe
authors.affiliation: Ecole des Mines de Douai, Department of Polymers and Composites Technology & Mechanical Engineering, 941 rue Charles Bourseul, BP 10838, F-59508 Douai, France; Univ. Lille Nord de France, Lille, F-59000, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krawczak
mesh_terms: D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013213:Starch