Abstract

CASTILLO, Verónica; MATOS, Mireya  and  MULLER, Alejandro J.. A New Route Towards The Preparation Of A Biodegradable Nanocomposite Based On Chitin Whiskers From Exoskeleton Of Shrimp And Polycaprolacton. Rev. LatinAm. Met. Mat. [online]. 2003, vol.23, n.2, pp.12-19. ISSN 0255-6952.

The main objective of this work was to explore the possibility of future preparation of nanocomposites using a-chitin whiskers as a reinforcing agent and poly( e -caprolactone), PCL, as the matrix polymer. Whiskers were successfully obtained as a result of the acid hydrolysis of purified chitin extracted previously from the exoskeleton of shrimp. These whiskers had a form factor of 15, with an average length of 300 nm. Once an aqueous suspension of chitin whiskers was produced, we developed a method in this paper to change the solvent (first to methanol and then to toluene), in order to incorporate the nano-fibers in non-water soluble polymers like PCL. A non flocculating suspension of the whiskers in toluene was prepared by means of the incorporation of a suitable surfactant. The dispersion of the whiskers was better in the aqueous medium than in toluene, indicating that the dispersion in the latter medium could be improved if a more efficient surfactant is found. Finally, preliminary experiments showed that PCL/chitin whiskers films can be prepared by first dissolving the PCL in the toluene suspension and later evaporating the solvent. Differential Scanning Calorimetry experiments demonstrated that a nucleating effect of the whiskers on the PCL was induced as well as a small increase in crystallinity. The efficiency of the chitin whiskers as nucleating agents for PCL was estimated by comparing the increased in crystallization temperature obtained with that of ideally self-nucleated material. When 5% chitin was employed a nucleating efficiency closed to 40% was achieved as well as 20% increase in crystallinity.

Keywords : Chitin, whiskers; polycaprolactone; nanocomposites; biodegradation.