Title: Atomic force microscopy investigation of electron beam (EB) irradiated composites based on biodegradable polymers and coconut fiber
Abstract: The problem of environmental pollution caused by plastic waste can be solved by the development of biodegradable polymeric materials [17]. In this sense, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) have been receiving much attention lately due to their biodegradability in human body as well as in the soil, biocompatibility, environmentally friendly characteristics and non-toxicity [2, 6, 7, 10]. The controlled degradation of polymers is sometimes desired for biomedical applications and environmental purposes. PLLA is a hard, transparent and crystalline polymer [15]. On the other hand, PCL can be used as a polymeric plasticizer because of its ability to lower elastic modulus and to soften other polymers [7]. The original reasons for preparing polymer blends are to reduce costs by combining high-quality polymers with cheaper materials (although this approach is usually accompanied by a drastic worsening of the properties of the polymer) and to create a polymer that has a desired combination of the different properties of its components. However, according to Michler [14], usually different polymers are incompatible. Improved properties can be only realized if the blend exhibits optimum morphology. According to Sawyer [21], in polymer science, the term morphology generally refers to form and organization on a size Atomic force microscopy investigation of electron beam (EB) irradiated composites based on biodegradable polymers and coconut fiber* Yasko Kodama, Akihiro Oishi, Naotsugu Nagasawa, Kazuo Nakayama, Masao Tamada, Luci D. B. Machado
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 3
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