Synthesis of unsaturated bio-based polypropylene fumarate/kaolinite nanocomposites via in situ polymerization
摘要
Fully bio-based aliphatic poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF)/kaolinite nanocomposites using 1,3-propanediol (PDO), fumaric acid and kaolinite were synthesized via in situ melt polycondensation, with titanium (IV) butoxide (Ti(OBu)4, TBT) as a catalyst. The impact of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-intercalated kaolinite on the thermal and mechanical properties of the polyesters was systematically evaluated. XRD and SEM confirmed that the DMSO intercalation improved the dispersion of kaolinite into the polymer matrix and enhanced the interfacial adhesion. The TGA results indicated that the incorporation of kaolinite significantly increased the thermal stability of the neat polymer, increasing it by up to 13.22% when compared to neat PPF. Furthermore, the nanocomposites exhibited enhanced compression properties with an increase of 157.4% in compressive strength and 71.5% in compressive modulus upon the addition of the 1% kaolinite. This enhancement is attributed to stronger intermolecular interactions between kaolinite particles and the polymer matrix. Notably, compressive strength and modulus values of 6.95 MPa and 71.70 MPa, respectively, for nanocomposites containing 1 wt% kaolinite, make them promising candidates for trabecular bone implant materials in tissue engineering applications.