Creep behaviour of layered silicate/starch-polycaprolactone blends nanocomposites

The creep behaviour of biodegradable composites based on starch/polycaprolactone commercial blends reinforced with an organo-modified nanoclay, processed by melt-intercalation was studied. Clay content and temperature effects were also analyzed. The experimental behaviour was correlated with several models. The master curves were built by means of the time-temperature superposition principle. Findley's power law correctly predicted the strain-time curves and also the complete compliance curves. The Burgers's model (four parameters) was also used allowing the relationship between the creep behaviour and the composite morphology. All the results showed that the addition of clay to the neat matrix leads to a significant improvement of creep resistance. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.