PVB/sepiolite nanocomposites as reinforcement agents for paper

In order to improve the mechanical properties of paper, 1, 3 and 5 wt.% of sepiolite were dispersed in a poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) matrix and coated onto the surface of schrenz (110 g m-2). Deagglomerated sepiolite nanofibers in PVB matrix on paper surface were observed by scanning electronic microscopy. The glass transition temperature of schrenz with PVB/sepiolite coatings was not changed with increasing content of sepiolite. Two different methods were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of the paper sample reinforced with PVB/sepiolite nanocomposites: tensile testing and nanoindentation. The values of breaking force and tensile energy absorption of the reinforced paper samples obtained by tensile testing were increased by up 10 %. The values of the reduced elastic modulus and hardness obtained by nanoindentation were increased by up to 78 %. The best improvement of the mechanical properties was shown by the paper sample coated with PVB/3 wt.% sepiolite nanocomposite. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 45019]