Elaboration of cellulose acetate nanobiocomposites using acidified gelatin‐montmorillonite as nanofiller: Morphology, properties, and biodegradation studies

Nanobiocomposites were successfully prepared from cellulose acetate (CA) and a novel organoclay based on montmorillonite and acidified gelatin as bio‐modifier (AGe‐MMT), at room temperature via solvent casting process. The formation of AGe‐MMT was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). From both XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses of these nanohybrids, it was suggested a partially exfoliated/intercalated structures, with small clay tactoïds remaining. Glass transition (T_g) and melting (T_m) temperatures of the nanobiocomposites, evaluated by DSC analysis, were slightly affected by clay loading compared to neat CA. Significant improvement in their thermal stabilities was observed from TGA, as evidenced by the shift of their Td_onset toward higher values. Otherwise, the optical clarity of these nanohybrids films, measured by UV–vis spectroscopy, has showed a decline in the transmittance in the visible region with the increase of clay content, indicating that clay platelets are not fully exfoliated. The impact of AGe‐MMT on biodegradability of CA under compost was also studied by gravimetric and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The CA matrix biodegradability was retarded by both MMT and bio‐modifier, except for 5 wt% AGe‐MMT loading. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1515–1524, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers