Oxidized starch films reinforced with natural halloysite

Abstract

Oxidized starch (OSt) films reinforced with natural halloysite were prepared by adding modified natural halloysite nanotubes into an OSt matrix. The halloysite/OSt films were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet spectrometry. The mechanical properties and moisture absorbability of the films were also studied. The modified halloysite nanotubes were well distributed in the starch matrix, and the tensile strength (TS) of the films was greatly enhanced, but the moisture adsorption ability of the films only changed slightly. The flexibility of the films was improved by adding glycerol but at a cost of reducing the TS. Incorporating a small amount of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) improved both the TS and the percent elongation at break of the halloysite/OSt films.

Strengthening and stiffening carbon fiber epoxy composites by halloysite nanotubes, carbon nanotubes and silicon carbide whiskers

“…The effects of a filler in the absence of continuous fibers (Du et al, 2010;He et al, 2012;Jia et al, 2011;Kong et al, 2011;Lecouvet et al, 2011;Rooj et al, 2011) received more attention than those in the presence of continuous fibers. In spite of the prior work mentioned above on the effects of various fillers in the presence of continuous fibers, comparative evaluation of competing fillers received little or no attention.…”