Morphology study of layered silicate/chitosan nanohybrids

Modification of clay with biopolymers has been of high interest in recent years. These new materials may be used for drug delivery systems and as biomaterials due to their high biocompatible properties and because they have the advantage of being biodegradable. The modification of montmorillonite (MMT) with chitosan was done in solution, at ratio 1:2 and at room temperature, or at stages of high temperature, and subjected to a microwave treatment. The influence of pH was observed upon the intercalation process.The obtained materials were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetrical analyses (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using such a mixed treatment, the basal distance of modified MMT increased up to 3.6 nm. The results show the intercalation of chitosan between the layers of MMT and obtaining of intercalated and partial exfoliated nanocomposites. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.