Flexible Bionanocomposites from Epoxidised Hemp Seed Oil Thermosetting Resin Reinforced with Halloysite Nanotubes.

Hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.) oil comprises a variety of beneficial unsaturated triglycerides with well-documented nutritional and health benefits. However, it can become rancid over a relatively short time period leading to increased industrial costs and waste of a valuable product. The development of sustainable polymers is presented as a strategy where both the presence of unsaturation and perox-ide content could be affectively utilised to alleviate both this waste and financial burden. After reaction with peroxyacetic acid, incorporation of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and sub-sequent thermal curing, without the need for organic sol-vents or interfacial modifiers, flexible transparent materials with a low glass transition temperature were developed. The improvement in thermal stability and both the static and dynamic mechanical properties of the bionanocomposites were significantly enhanced with the well-dispersed HNT filler. At an optimum concentration of 0.5 wt.% HNTs, a simultaneous increase in stiffness, strength, ductility and toughness was observed in comparison to the unfilled cured resin. These sustainable food-waste derived bionanocompo-sites may provide an interesting alternative to petroleum-based materials, particularly for low-load bearing applica-tions, such as packaging.