Thermal Degradation, Crystallization, and Rheological Behavior of Biodegradable Poly(p-dioxanone)/Synthetic Hectorite Nanocomposites

Biodegradable poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO)/synthetic hectorite nanocomposites were successfully prepared by in-situ ring-opening polymerization of p-dioxanone (PDO) in the presence of organomodified synthetic hectorite (OSHEC). Attachment of poly(ester-ether) chains around the exfoliated clay sheets was found. Influence of clay content on thermal behavior was studied. OSHEC accelerated the thermal degradation of the ester group in the polymer chains. Exfoliated organoclay layers, to some extent, acted as a hindrance to the growth rate of the spherulites instead of as nucleating agents. Inorganic clay played an important role in enhancing the shear viscosity of nanocomposites due to its unique structure and the reasonable interaction between the clay and PPDO matrix.