Polysaccharides/Halloysite nanotubes for smart bionanocomposite materials.

Biopolymers as alternative to fossils-derived polymers are attracting the interest of researcher in material science. Besides the economic advantages, the sustainability makes polysaccharides ideal candidates to prepare films and formulations. The addition of Halloysite nanotubes as green inorganic fillers was exploited to improve the physico-chemical properties and to introduce smart response abilities to the material.

Biopolymer-Targeted Adsorption onto Halloysite Nanotubes in Aqueous Media.

Studies on the adsorption of biopolymers onto halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) in water were conducted. Three polymers with different charges-anionic (pectin), neutral (hydroxypropyl cellulose), and cationic (chitosan)-were chosen. The thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption of polymers onto the HNT surface were determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC).