Biobased composites
with peculiar properties offer an attractive
route for producing environmentally friendly materials. The reinforcement
for poly(butylene adipate-
co
-terephthalate) (PBAT),
based on zein-titanium dioxide (TiO
2
) complex (ZTC) microparticles,
is presented and used to produce composite filaments, successfully
3-dimensionally (3D) printed by fused deposition modeling (FDM). The
outcome of ZTC addition, ranging from 5 to 40 wt %, on the thermo-mechanical
properties of composite materials was analyzed. Results reveal that
storage modulus increased with increasing the ZTC content, leading
to a slight increase in the glass transition temperature. The creep
compliance varies with the ZTC concentration, denoting a better resistance
to deformation under constant stress conditions for composites with
higher complex content. Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess
the quality of interphase adhesion between PBAT and ZTC, showing good
dispersion and distribution of complex microparticles in the polymer
matrix. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of a valid interface
due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between filler and polymer
matrix. Preliminary tests on the biocompatibility of these materials
were also performed, showing no cytotoxic effects on cell viability.
Finally, the 3D printability of biobased composites was demonstrated
by realizing complex structures with a commercial FDM printer.
The present work reports on the preparation and subsequent mechanical, morphological and thermal characterization of composites based on poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBAT), reinforced with micro-particles of inorganic bioabsorbable calcium-phosphate glass (CPG) at different contents up to 40 wt %. The PBAT-CPG composites were prepared by solvent casting. The resulting composite pellets were used for the injection molding of model 1BA specimens, according to standard UNI EN ISO 527. PBAT-CPG composites displayed an effective increase of the Young's modulus (E) up to 82% compared to the pristine polymer, while showing a reduction of the yield stress (σ y ) up to 20%, of the stress at break (σ B ) up to 46%, of the strain at break (ε B ) up to 57%
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