Preparation and characterization of thermoplastic starch–kaolinite nanocomposite films

In this work, the thermoplastic starch–kaolinite (KAO) nanocomposite films were first prepared via solution‐casting method using chitosan‐modified KAO (CKAO) and Na+–KAO (NKAO). The structure was investigated by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. The results showed that the well‐dispersed KAO layers were delaminated in the starch matrix attesting to anexfoliated nanocomposite and formed strong interaction with starch molecules. According to thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetric study, and water absorption testing, the starch–CKAO–urea nanocomposites have the greatest enhancements compared with those of starch–urea film and starch–NKAO–urea nanocomposites. These results provide the important information with using CKAO to obtain the exfoliated starch nanocomposites with high performance. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012.