Three types of zirconium phosphonate (org-ZrP) with different functional groups (―COOH, ―SO₃H, ―NO₂) were prepared first and then added into chitosan (CS) matrix, respectively. The effect of these functional groups on structure, morphologies, and mechanical properties of chitosan films was investigated. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that org-ZrP had intensely interacted with chitosan in the composites because of introducing functional groups on the fillers. The composite films filled with zirconium sulfophenylphosphonate exhibited the best mechanical properties among the three org-ZrP fillers. These differences of reinforcement effect appeared to be caused by the difference of interfacial interactions between the org-ZrP fillers and matrix. The stronger the interfacial interactions are, the better the reinforcement effect is. In addition, the moisture uptake (Mu) of CS/org-ZrP-n composite films depended on the hydrophilic property of functional groups. It was found that zirconium nitrophenyl phosphonate showed the best moisture barrier property due to its poor absorbability for water molecules. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Novel chitosan (CS)/oxidized starch (OST)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites (COST/GO-n) films are prepared in a casting and solvent evaporation method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractions, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, tensile testing, and moisture uptake are used to study the structure and properties of these nanocomposites. To indicate the effect of carboxyl groups of OST, some results of the properties of CS/starch/GO nanocomposite (CST/GO-n) were selected for control experimentation. Compared with the control CST/GO-n series, COST/GO-n films, which have the same component ration showed higher tensile strength (σ_b) and lower elongation at break (ε_b). Additionally, in the COST/GO-n series, the σ_b increased with an increase of GO loading. However, higher proportion of GO could result in aggregations of GO nanosheets and deterioration of the film properties. Compared with the COST/GO-0, the values of σ_b and water resistance of the COST/GO-4 containing 2.0 wt % of GO were improved by 57.7 and 20.1%, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

A new type of layered zirconium phosphonate (zirconium glycine-N, N-dimethylphosphonate, abbreviated as ZGDMP), with functional group of -COOH, has been successfully prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To confirm the effect of the functional group -COOH on the structure and properties of composites, a series of chitosan/zirconium phosphonate modified by n-butylamine (BA-ZGDMP) nanocomposite films were prepared by casting process. FTIR spectra suggested that strong interactions existed between BA-ZGDMP and chitosan matrix. Compared to neat CS film, tensile strength (σ_b) and elongation at break (ε_b) of the nanocomposite film improved by 35.1% and 15.6%, respectively, with loading ratio of just 1.0 wt %. In addition, the BA-ZGDMP also improved the water resistance of the nanocomposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

Novel castor oil-based polyurethane/α-zirconium phosphate (PU/α-ZrP) composite films with different α-ZrP loading (0–1.6 wt %) and different NCO/OH molar ratios were synthesized by a solution casting method. The characteristic properties of the PU/α-ZrP composite films were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and tensile testing. The results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding formed between α-ZrP and PU, XRD and SEM results revealed that the α-ZrP particles were uniformly distributed in the PU matrix at low loading, and obvious aggregation existed at high loading. Because of hydrogen bonding interactions, the maximum values of tensile strength were obtained with 0.6 wt % α-ZrP loading and 1.5 of NCO/OH molar ratio in the matrix. Evidence proved that the induced α-ZrP used as a new filler material can affect considerably the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

A novel conductivity composite from polyaniline (PANI) and layered zirconium phenylphosphonate (ZrPP) was carried out through in situ chemical oxidation polymerization by the addition of an appropriate amount of ammonium peroxodisulfate solution, and the relevant structure and properties were investigated. The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The electrical conductivity was measured by the four-probe technique. The electrical conductivity of the composites improved with increasing ZrPP loading, and the materials had reasonably good electrical properties, even with 40 wt % loadings of ZrPP in the polymer matrix. The results reveal that π–π interaction was formed in the composites, which enhanced the electrical conductivity of the composites compared to that in neat PANI. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

Nano-fillers play an important role in the final structure and properties of nanocomposites. The objective of the work presented here was to prepare nanocomposite films of chitosan/α-zirconium phosphate using a casting process, with α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) as nano-filler and chitosan as matrix. The effects of α-ZrP on the structure and properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that α-ZrP crystals were intercalated by n-butylamine. The results from scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy indicated that α-ZrP could be uniformly dispersed in the chitosan matrix when α-ZrP loading in the composites was less than 2 wt%. A strong interaction between α-ZrP and chitosan formed during the film-forming process. Tensile testing showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of nanocomposite films achieved maximum values of 61.6 MPa and 58.1%, respectively, when α-ZrP loading was 2 wt%. The parameter B calculated from tensile yield stress according to the Pukanszky model was used to estimate the interfacial interaction between the chitosan matrix and α-ZrP. Films with a loading of 2 wt% α-ZrP had the highest B value (3.2), indicating the strongest interfacial interaction. The moisture uptake of the nanocomposites was reduced with addition of α-ZrP. It can be concluded that α-ZrP as nano-filler in a chitosan matrix can enhance the mechanical properties of nanocomposites due to the strong interactions between α-ZrP and chitosan. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

The grafting of 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) onto konjac glucomannan (KGM) by ammonium persulfate (APS) as the initiator was studied in an acid aqueous solution under an inert atmosphere. The grafting ratio (G%) and grafting efficiency (E%) were evaluated comparatively. The dependence of these parameters on the initiator concentration, sulfuric acid concentration, ratio of monomer to KGM, temperature, and reaction time was also investigated. Under conditions of [KGM] = 1.00 g/L, [APS] = 1.00 × 10⁻² mol/L, [4-VP] = 9.32 × 10⁻² mol/L, [H⁺] = 5.00 × 10⁻² mol/L, temperature = 35°C, and time = 120 min, the optimum G% and E% were 307.27 and 52.75%, respectively. The proof of grafting was obtained from thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectra. Preliminary research of the graft's adsorption capacity for heavy-metal ions [Cr(VI), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II)] was done. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009