Organically modified layered titanate: A new nanofiller to improve the performance of biodegradable polylactide

The preparation and characterization of a new type of nanocomposite material that is based on biodegradable polylactide (PLA) and organically modified layered titanate, is reported. Layered titanate, modified with a N-(cocoalkyl)-N,N-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)]-N-methylammo-nium cation, was used as a new nanofiller (OHTO) for the nanocomposite preparation. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses confirmed that titanate layers were intercalated and nicely distributed in the PLA matrix. The materials properties of neat PLA improved remarkably after nanocomposite preparation.