Abstract: In recent years, polymeric materials from renewable resources have received significant research attention because of their importance in environmental and economic viewpoints. Inexpensive triglyceride plant oils have been used for the production of biodegradable polymeric materials. Polymeric nanocomposites were synthesized from epoxidized castor oil-based polymer and montmorillonite (MMT) clay using an in situ polymerization reaction. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized using FTIR, XRD andSEM analysis. It was found that the desired polymer nanocomposite structure was achieved when the OMMT was loading at 1, 2and 3 wt%. All the nanocomposites were found to have improved mechanical properties as compared with ordinary polymer, which have been confirmed by mechanical analysis.
Keywords: Epoxidized castor oil, organically modified montmorillonite, bio-based nanocomposites, mechanical properties
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