title: Effects of preparation methods on the structure and mechanical properties of wet conditioned starch/montmorillonite nanocomposite films.
abstract: TPS/Na-montmorillonite nanocomposite films were prepared by solution and melt blending. Clay content changed between 0 and 25 wt% based on the amount of dry starch. Structure, tensile properties, and water content of wet conditioned films were determined as a function of clay content. Intercalated structure and VH-type crystallinity of starch were found for all the nanocomposites independently of clay and plasticizer content or preparation method, but at larger than 10 wt% clay content nanocomposites prepared by melt intercalation contained aggregated particles as well. In spite of the incomplete exfoliation clay reinforces TPS considerably. Preparation method has a strong influence on mechanical properties of wet conditioned films. Mechanical properties of the conditioned samples prepared by solution homogenization are much better than those of nanocomposites prepared by melt blending. Water, which was either adsorbed or bonded in the composites in conditioning or solution mixing process, respectively, has different effect on mechanical properties.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, PO Box 91, H-1521 Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 17, H-1525 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, PO Box 91, H-1521 Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 17, H-1525 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Éva
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Kapin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, PO Box 91, H-1521 Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 17, H-1525 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: ebodine@mail.bme.hu.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fekete
keywords: Interfacial interactions; Mechanical properties; TPS/montmorillonite nanocomposite; Wet conditioning