Study the effect of CaCO3 nanoparticles on physical properties of biopolymer blend

Abstract

Chitosan (CH) / Poly (1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (PVP-co-VAc) blend (1:1) and nanocomposites reinforced with CaCO3 nanoparticles were prepared by solution casting method. FTIR analysis, tensile strength, Elongation, Young modulus, Thermal conductivity, water absorption and Antibacterial properties were studied for blend and nanocomposites. The tensile results show that the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the nanocomposites were enhanced compared with polymer blend [CH/(PVP-co-VAc)] film. The mechanical properties of the polymer blend were improved by the addition of CaCO3 with significant increases in Young’s modulus (from 1787 MPa to ~7238 MPa) and tensile strength (from 47.87 MPa to 79.75 MPa). Strong interfacial bonding between the CaCO3 nanoparticles and the [CH/(PVP-co-VAc)), homogenous distribution of the nanoparticles in the polymer blend, are assistance of noticeably raised mechanical durability. The thermal conductivity of the polymer blend and CaCO3 nanocomposite films show that it decreased in the adding of nanoparticle CaCO3. The solvability measurements display that the nanocomposite has promoted water resistance. The weight gain lowered with the increase of nano CaCO3. Blending chitosan CH with (PVP-co-VAc) enhanced strength and young modules of the nanocomposites and increased the absorption of water because hydrophilic of the blended polymers films. The effect of two types of positive S.aurous and negative E. coli was studied. The results showed that the nanocomposites were effective for both types, where the activity value ranged from (12 ~ 21). The best results were found for S.aurous bacteria.