Influence of sepiolite on thermal, mechanical and biodegradation properties of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate nanocomposites

The clay polymer nanocomposites comprising of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) and vinyl triethoxy silane grafted sepiolite (VTES-g-SEP) were prepared by the solution casting. Scanning electron micrographs revealed the absence of voids and high interfacial interaction between polymer and VTES-g-SEP. Thermal and mechanical properties of the clay polymer nanocomposites were significantly enhanced as compared to the PHBV. The scanning electron micrographs of clay polymer nanocomposite films subjected to soil burial showed formation of pits and agglomerates. Additionally, Fourier transform infrared spectra of clay polymer nanocomposite films buried in soil demonstrated a sharp decline in the intensities of IR peaks was found at 3617-3019 cm(-1) (OH stretching), 1710 cm(-1) (carbonyl stretching), 1365 cm(-1) (symmetric bending of C-H vibrations), 1265 cm(-1) (C-O stretching), 1165 cm(-1) (asymmetric stretching of C-O-C group) and 978 cm(-1) (C-H bending) after 90 days of soil burial. In a nutshell, the clay polymer nanocomposite films can be used in packaging applications.