Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13(4), 4508-4522; doi:10.3390/ijms13044508
Article

Enhancement of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Blend by Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles

Sanaz Abdolmohammadi 1,* email, Samira Siyamak 1 email, Nor Azowa Ibrahim 1,* email, Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus 2 email, Mohamad Zaki Ab Rahman 1 email, Susan Azizi 1 email and Asma Fatehi 1 email
1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia 2 Department of Chemistry, Centre For Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 31 January 2012; in revised form: 24 February 2012 / Accepted: 19 March 2012 / Published: 10 April 2012
(This article belongs to the Section Material Sciences and Nanotechnology)
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Abstract: This study investigates the effects of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles on the mechanical and thermal properties and surface morphology of polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan nanocomposites. The nanocomposites of PCL/chitosan/CaCO3 were prepared using a melt blending technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicate the average size of nanoparticles to be approximately 62 nm. Tensile measurement results show an increase in the tensile modulus with CaCO3 nanoparticle loading. Tensile strength and elongation at break show gradual improvement with the addition of up to 1 wt% of nano-sized CaCO3. Decreasing performance of these properties is observed for loading of more than 1 wt% of nano-sized CaCO3. The thermal stability was best enhanced at 1 wt% of CaCO3 nanoparticle loading. The fractured surface morphology of the PCL/chitosan blend becomes more stretched and homogeneous in PCL/chitosan/CaCO3 nanocomposite. TEM micrograph displays good dispersion of CaCO3 at lower nanoparticle loading within the matrix.
Keywords: nanocomposites; calcium carbonate nanoparticles; polycaprolactone; chitosan; mechanical properties; thermal properties

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MDPI and ACS Style

Abdolmohammadi, S.; Siyamak, S.; Ibrahim, N.A.; Yunus, W.M.Z.W.; Rahman, M.Z.A.; Azizi, S.; Fatehi, A. Enhancement of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Blend by Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13, 4508-4522.

AMA Style

Abdolmohammadi S, Siyamak S, Ibrahim NA, Yunus WMZW, Rahman MZA, Azizi S, Fatehi A. Enhancement of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Blend by Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2012; 13(4):4508-4522.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Abdolmohammadi, Sanaz; Siyamak, Samira; Ibrahim, Nor Azowa; Yunus, Wan Md Zin Wan; Rahman, Mohamad Zaki Ab; Azizi, Susan; Fatehi, Asma. 2012. "Enhancement of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Blend by Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 13, no. 4: 4508-4522.

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