Mechanical Characterization Study of Additive as Nanofiller in Poly (ε-Caprolactone) Nanocomposite

Abstract

In order to keep with ever evolving technology in biomedical field, the demand for Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is gaining importance due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, the low mechanical, barrier and thermal strength of PCL restricts its widespread use. These drawbacks of virgin PCL can be rectified by incorporating nanofiller into the PCL matrix. Till date, research has been carried out incorporating nano-fiber into PCL but to the best of our knowledge there is hardly any literature regarding organoclay modified nanofiller-PCL composites. The present study represents PCL nanocomposites preparation and characterization. The FTIR and XRD spectra observe uniform distribution of nanofiller in the PCL matrix. The characterization of mechanical properties shows enhancement in strength till 3.5 wt% loading and declining trend afterwards indicating agglomeration of nanofiller at higher wt% ratio. The increase in tensile strength without sacrificing elongation at break provides these composites with very attractive mechanical properties.