New intercalated layer silicate nanocomposites based on synthesized starch-g-PCL prepared via solution intercalation and in situ polymerization methods: As a comparative study

Starch-g-polycaprolacton (Starch-g-PCL) nanocomposites have been prepared with graft polymerization through in situ ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolacton in the presence of starch and Sn(Oct)(2) (Tin(II) 2-ethyl hexanoate) as an initiator/catalyst. A surface-modified montmorillonite by dimethyl (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) ammonium cation, was used. In fact, the related nanocomposites prepared via two methods in solution and in situ with introducing different amount of loading clay. The effect of swelling time on d-spacing of silicate layers was investigated and the obtained nanocomposites were analyzed using X-ray diffraction technique. The morphology of the synthesized nanocomposites examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and also the thermal degradation behavior of the prepared nanocomposites accomplished with using TGA. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.