A combination of three surface modifiers for the optimal generation and application of natural hybrid nanopigments in a biodegradable resin

Our purpose was to improve the thermal, mechanical and optimal properties of an epoxy bioresin using optimum hybrid natural pigments previously synthesised in our lab. Next, we searched for the best combinations of factors in the synthesis of natural hybrid nanopigments and then incorporated them into the bioresin. We combined three structural modifiers in the nanopigment synthesis, surfactant, coupling agent (silane) and a mordant salt (alum), selected to replicate mordant textile dyeing with natural dyes. We used Taguchi s design L8 to seek final performance optimisation. We selected three natural dyes, chlorophyll, beta-carotene and beetroot extract, and used two laminar nanoclay types, montmorillonite and hydrotalcite. The thermal, mechanical and colorimetric characterisation of the composite obtained by mixing natural hybrid nanopigments (bionanocomposite) was made. The natural dye interactions with both nanoclays improved the thermal stabilities, colour performance and UV VIS light exposure stability of natural dyes and bioresins. The best bionanocomposite materials were found in an acidic pH [3, 4] environment and by modifying nanoclays with mordant and surfactant during the nanopigment synthesis processWe thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for funding Projects DPI2011-30090-C02-02 and DPI2015-68514-R.Micó Vicent, B.; Jordán Núñez, J.; Martinez Verdu, FM.; Balart Gimeno, RA. (2017). A combination of three surface modifiers for the optimal generation and application of natural hybrid nanopigments in a biodegradable resin. Journal of Materials Science. 52(2):889-898. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0384-8S889898522Majdzadeh-Ardakani K, Nazari B (2010) Improving the mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch/poly(vinyl alcohol)/clay nanocomposites. 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Structure and properties of polylactide/natural rubber blends

International audiencePolylactide, PLA, is a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester derived from biomass that has restricted packaging applications due to its high brittleness and poor crystallisation behaviour. Here, new formulations based on natural rubber-PLA blends have been developed. The processing windows, temperature, time, and rotor rate, and the rubber content have been optimised in order to obtain a blend with useful properties. The rubber phase was uniformly dispersed in the continuous PLA matrix with a droplet size range from 1.1 to 2.0 mu m. The ductility of PLA has been significantly improved by blending with natural rubber, NR. The elongation at break improved from 5% for neat PLA to 200% by adding 10 wt% NR. In addition, the incorporation of NR not only increased the crystallisation rate but also enhanced the crystallisation ability of PLA. These materials are, therefore, very promising for industrial applications

Physicochemical properties of organoclay filled polylactic acid/natural rubber blend bionanocomposites

International audienceA novel toughened polylactic acid (PLA) bionanocomposite with tuneable properties was successfully prepared by melt mixing PEA with natural rubber and several montmorillonites (MMTs). The organoclays were preferentially located at the interface acting as compatibilisers between both polymer phases. This location resulted in a marked improvement of the physical and mechanical properties of the system. Moreover, these properties can be controlled as a function of the nanofiller nature and the mixing procedure used

Multifunctional nanostructured PLA materials for packaging and tissue engineering

This review reports the promising prospects of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based nanostructured materials considering two of their main potential uses, packaging and tissue engineering. The review initially discusses the significant progresses in the development of PLA bionanocomposites for packaging applications. The review then continues with a comprehensive analysis of the recent advances in tissue engineering applications focusing in the synthesis of PLA nanoparticles, the processing of PLA based multifunctional nanocomposites and PLA surface modification techniques. In summary, the review presents the current state of nanostructured PLA materials and establishes the exciting present and future prospects of these materials at the interface of chemistry, biology and material science.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the CSIC (2010MA0003). NB thanks the CSIC for a JAE-Pre grant. The Author Elena Fortunati is the recipient of the fellowship “L’Oreal Italia per le Donne e la Scienza 2012” for the project >Progettazione, sviluppo e caratterizzazione di biomateriali nanostrutturati capaci di modulare la risposta e il differenziamento delle cellule staminali>.Peer Reviewe

Quantitative mapping of mechanical properties in polylactic acid/natural rubber/organoclay bionanocomposites as revealed by nanoindentation with atomic force microscopy

Quantitative mapping of the mechanical properties of a series of polylactic acid/natural rubber/organoclay bionanocomposites has been accomplished by using nanoindentation with atomic force microscopy. Topography, elastic modulus and adhesion maps were obtained simultaneously revealing nanoscopic mechanical features in the samples associated to the different phases. For polylactic acid and polylactic acid/natural rubber a single distribution of Young's moduli was obtained whose maximum correlates well with the macroscopic measurements. Bionanocomposites with high organoclay loads exhibit a bimodal distribution of elastic moduli whose maxima can be associated to the polylactic acid matrix and to the reinforcing levels provided by the organoclay component. Adhesion maps allow one to obtain mechanical contrast between polylactic acid and organoclay, at high loadings, revealing the good compatibility of the organoclay with the polymer