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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206015
Title: Biodegradable nanocomposites from toughened polyhydroxybutyrate and titanate-modified montmorillonite clay

Author
item PAROLEKA, YASHODHAN - MSU, EAST LANSING, MI
item MOHANTY, AMAR - MSU, EAST LANSING, MI
item Imam, Syed

Submitted to: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2007
Publication Date: 3/12/2007
Citation: Paroleka, Y., Mohanty, A.K., Imam, S.H. 2007. Biodegradable nanocomposites from toughened polyhydroxybutyrate and titanate-modified montmorillonite clay. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 7(10):3580-3589.

Interpretive Summary: Agriculturally-derived renewable polymers have poor physical properties. These polymers offer an excellent opportunity for use as raw materials in single-use biodegradable consumer packaging products. Therefore, it is critical that the chemistry and engineering tools be utilized to improve polymer property and to create novel functionalities. One application for biobased materials that is being considered is the food and non-food packaging. In this report, the development of biodegradable nanocomposite, based on inorganic clay and bacterially produced bioplastic is described. Only 5% modified clay in formulation exhibited about 400% improvement in the impact properties of the material, while retaining its inherent biodegradablity in compost. Improving properties of biobased polymers and blends will increase their demad for industrial uses. Furthermore, enhanced utilization of renewable polymers will directly benefit American farmers and improve rural economy.

Technical Abstract: Montmorillonite clay treated with neopentyl (diallyl)oxy tri( dioctyl) pyrophosphato-titanate was used as a reinforcement for toughened bacterial bioplastic, Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in order to develop novel biodegradable nanocomposites. The modified clay, PHB, toughening partner and specific compatibilizer were processed by extrusion followed by injection molding. Different microscopy and goniometry techniques, rheology analysis, X-ray diffraction and thermo-mechanical testing were used to characterize the nanocomposites. Results showed that the nanocomposites with 5 wt % titanate-modified clay loading exhibited about 400% improvement in impact properties and 40% reduction in modulus in comparison with virgin PHB. The novel aspect of the titanate-based modification was that the nanocomposites still maintained nearly the same impact strength value as that of toughened PHB. The diffraction patterns suggest exfoliation of the organically modified clays and this was further supported by transmission electron microscopy and melt rheological analysis. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were correlated with a modified Halpin- Tsai theoretical model and the predictions matched significantly with the experimental results. Toughened and compatibilized PHB showed significantly lower biodegradation rate than virgin PHB and most significantly the addition of the titanate-modified clay in the same formulation enhanced the biodegradation several fold.