Thermomechanical and Viscoelastic Behavior of Biodegradable and Biocompatible Polymer Nanocomposite

Abstract

The application of biodegradable and biocompatible polymer composite is continuously increasing in various fields such as electrical, electronics, construction, automobiles, and aerospace. The synthetic petroleum-based polymers and composite materials are the cause of the accumulation of huge quantities of waste and subsequently affect our natural ecosystem seriously. Hence, to solve this global issue, researchers are focusing on the development of new sustainable, biodegradable polymeric materials, which are cost-effective and easily industrialized to substitute the conventionally used nonbiodegradable polymeric materials. For proper development and design of biodegradable and biocompatible polymer nanocomposite, different behaviors of the prepared materials must be studied. The viscosity and shear modulus of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) is the product of viscosity or the dynamic shear modulus of the matrix phase of the nanocomposite and volume fraction of the particle. The viscoelastic behavior of the PNCs is strongly influenced by the properties of the polymer matrix and nanoparticle interactions. The different thermomechanical behaviors of polymer and biopolymers include abrasion, thermal shock, mechanical stresses, coefficient of thermal expansion, thermomechanical analysis, thermal stability, [Formula: see text], thermal expansion, thermal analysis, etc. The biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric materials do not possess adequate thermomechanical properties, therefore, to improve the thermomechanical properties, the material should be blended with other suitable materials. Some of the biocomposite materials such as PLA/PBAT, PLA/PBSA, PLA/PBSA, PLA nanocomposites reinforced with clay materials and some fiber-reinforced polymer composites exhibits good thermomechanical properties.