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The effect of urea and urea-modified halloysite on performance of PCL

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Abstract

The effects of urea and urea-modified halloysite nanotubes (HNT) on structure and properties of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) were evaluated using mechanical testing combined with FTIR, DSC, DMA, and various microscopic techniques. The results indicate important changes in mechanical behavior by urea-mediated interchain hydrogen bonding in PCL, whereas no linking between PCL and HNT in the related nanocomposite was found. As a result, the improved mechanical behavior of nanocomposites with urea-modified HNT was caused by combination of the matrix modification and urea-aided enhanced dispersion of HNT. The additives do not have any marked effect on PCL crystallinity. HNT increases and urea reduces the overall rate of crystallization. Both additives show a moderate nucleating effect.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (Grant No 13-15255S) and Slovak Scientific Grant Agency (VEGA) Grant No. 1/0361/14. The support of the TÁMOP-4.1.1.C-12/1/KONV-2012-0017 project in the nanocomplex preparation is also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, The Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Viera Khunová

  2. Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06, Prague, Czech Republic

    Ivan Kelnar, Jiří Dybal, Jaroslav Kratochvíl & Ludmila Kaprálková

  3. Institute of Chemistry, University of Pannonia, P.O. Box 158, 8201, Veszprém, Hungary

    János Kristóf

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  1. Viera Khunová
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  2. Ivan Kelnar
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  5. Jaroslav Kratochvíl
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  6. Ludmila Kaprálková
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Correspondence to Viera Khunová.

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Khunová, V., Kelnar, I., Kristóf, J. et al. The effect of urea and urea-modified halloysite on performance of PCL. J Therm Anal Calorim 120, 1283–1291 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4448-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4448-9

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