Investigations on mechanical and morphological characterization of chitosan reinforced polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

Epoxy(EP)/Chitosan(CTS) nanocomposites was successfully prepared by compression moulding method. The morphological characterization on EP/CTS nanocomposites was carried out using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy. Mechanical properties were studied as per ASTM D638-91, ASTM D256 and thermal properties were examined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. SEM micrographs displays good dispersion of CTS was exhibited in the composite structure. Functional groups and degree of crystallinity are identified using FTIR and XRD. The TGA and DSC study show that the CTS nanoparticles were thermally stable. The addition of up to four weight percentage of CTS nanoparticles showed moderate improvement in tensile (80%) and flexural strength (47%) compared to neat epoxy and on addition of more than four weight percentage, the mechanical properties started deteriorating. In vitro hemolytic assay confirms the hemocompatibility of CTS/EP composites and the hemolytic ratio was found to be less than 5%. This result suggests that the CTS/EP composites are favourable biomaterials for bone fracture fixation plates and orthopaedic applications.