Biocompatible nanocomposite production via nanoclays with diverse morphology

Abstract

Green Nanocomposite Production is conducted in this study; which means that both the production method (water-solvent based) and composite constituents are biocompatible, environmentally-friendly, and non-toxic. Dispersion and thermal behavior of two different nanoclays; tubular Halloysite (HNT) and lamellar Bentonite (BNT) are investigated either individually or mutually in the polymer matrix of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). For BNT, without any surface modification, exfoliation of silicate layers is achieved owing to the compatible hydrophilic nature of the composite constituents. In the case of HNT nanocomposite, hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl group of PVP and the silanol groups on HNT-surface is detected by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that insertion of either BNT or HNT results in similar improvements in thermal stability (7–8%). However, when HNT surface is modified by 3-aminopropyltrietoxysilane (APTS); the highest thermal stability of this study is achieved and the thermal stability of PVP is enhanced by 11%. This is attributed to the hydrogen bond formation between the amine group on HNT surface and the carbonyl group of PVP. Yet, when BNT is added together with either HNT or APTS-modified HNT, thermal stability improvement is found to be close to the mere addition of unmodified-HNT.