Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)

Abstract The properties of the Nanoclay-corn starch film were studied in the presence of Nanostarch. Nanostarch was synthesized through nanoprecipitation and characterized using the Particle Size Distribution Analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction Analysis (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis (FTIR). The XRD analysis of nanostarch particles revealed a distinctive V-type diffraction peak, with particle diameters ranging from 25 to 100 nm. The impact of introducing nanostarch into the starch-nanoclay film was investigated in terms of the thickness, transparency, morphology, wettability, and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite film. The results indicated that adding nanostarch particles improved the optical transparency of the film along with its hydrophobicity and flexibility. The film having a weight ratio of 0.769 (nanoclay to nanostarch) showed the maximum hydrophobicity (107.85°), and elongation at break (58.6%). This suggests that the appropriate incorporation of nanostarch can enhance the film's flexibility. The maximum tensile strength (5.88 MPa) was obtained for the film with a weight ratio of 1 (nanoclay to nanostarch).

Abstract Morphological and thermal properties of PA6/NBR nanocomposites prepared through a direct melt mixing process in an internal mixer were studied. The effects of the NBR content (10, 30, and 50%) and nanoclay loading (3, 5, and 7%) on the microstructure properties of nanocomposites have been reported and compared with PA6/NBR blends as well. The thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), volume swelling in oil, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). XRD results show that Cloisite 30B is exfoliated into the PA6 and NBR. TEM image of the PA6/NBR/nanoclay composite confirms partial exfoliated structure of silicate layers dispersed into the both NBR and PA6 phases. The SEM photomicrograph of PA6/NBR nanocomposite shows an increasing of the rubber particles size in comparison with unfilled PA6/NBR TPE. By the presence of nanoclay, improved oil resistances of the prepared TPE nanocomposites were achieved. DSC studies show that loading of the nanoclay reduces the degree of crystallinity of the nanocomposite samples. The DMTA test shows that storage modulus of the PA6/NBR nanocomposite increases in comparison with the PA6/NBR blend. It also explains a reduction in damping by loading of the nanoclay.