LAUSR

ABSTRACT Novel biodegradable nanocomposite membranes were prepared using a chemo-enzymatic route. Polyester-urethane-urea matrix was obtained from poly(ε-caprolactone) diol, isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), and hexamethylene diamine (HMDA) as a chain extender. Nanocomposites (0.5% wt/wt) were synthesized by in situ polymerization using reinforced multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) grafted with two distinct-generation dendritic poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM). Membranes were prepared by the so-called inversion phase method, using N,N dimethylformamide as solvent and water as non-solvent. The effect of the amine group content into filler in the mechanical and filtration properties of membranes was evaluated. It was observed that the content of amine groups in the dendrimer-modified MWNTs provides sites for hydrogen bonding interactions in the matrix, which influence mechanical properties such as toughness and extensibility, and the porous morphology of the membrane. Additionally, it was observed that PAMAM grafted MWNTs may interact with soft segments of PU, modifying the filtering properties of membranes.