Enhancing the dispersibility of multiwalled carbon nanotubes within starch-based films by the use of ionic surfactants

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Alves, Z (Author) Other; Abreu, B (Author) FCUP; Ferreira, NM (Author) Other; Eduardo F Marques (Author) FCUP; Nunes, C (Author) Other; Ferreira, P (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Carbohydrate Polymers

Vol. 273

ISSN: 0144-8617

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 11 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-8TD

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118531

Abstract (EN): The incorporation of carbon-based nanomaterials into biopolymer matrix, to provide mechanical reinforcement and to obtain electrically conductive bionanocomposites, requires the homogeneous dispersion of the fillers. Herein, it is investigated the influence of surfactant structures on the dispersibility of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) within starch matrix. Three different ionic surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium cholate (SC), are employed to disperse the MWNT. Films with MWNT-SC show better dispersibility and an increase of about 75% of tensile strength and 60% of Young's modulus compared with films using MWNT-SDS and MWNT-CTAB. Nevertheless, MWNT functionalized with CTAB impart the highest values of antioxidant activity (scavenging activity around 30% in 1.5 h) and electrical conductivity (sigma =14.75 S/m) to starch matrix. The properties of starch-based films can be tailored according to the physical adsorption of each surfactant on MWNT surface and/or the interfacial interaction of the surfactant with starch chains.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11