Polymer–filler interactions play a major role in determining the antibacterial activity of organoclay in nanocomposites. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of polymer type on the antibacterial properties of an organically modified clay – cloisite 10A (C10A) – using poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLA) polymeric systems. Nanocomposite characterization using atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed an increase in roughness upon addition of the clay mineral, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed intercalation of the selected polymers into the interlayer spaces of the clay. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis supported the XRD findings. C10A in PCL thin films enhanced the bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus when compared to the C10A in PLA. The observed change could be the result of pronounced levels of interaction between the filler and polymer matrix in the C10A-PLA nanocomposite when compared to C10A-PCL. The higher interaction levels could hinder the diffusion of bactericidal agents from the nanocomposite membranes. The present study provided insight into the nature of interaction between nanocomposite components and its impact on bioactivity, which can have applications in terms of generating engineered antibacterial materials.

Organo-modified clay nanoparticles were mixed at 1 and 5 wt% concentrations with a molten blend of 75 wt% of polylactide (PLA) and 25 wt% poly[(butylene adipate)-co-terephthalate] (PBAT). Three mixing strategies were used to control the localization of nanoclay. Small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) and stress growth tests were conducted to clarify the nanoclay interactions with the blend components and its effect on the molecular relaxation behavior. SAOS and weighted relaxation spectra properties were determined before and after pre-shearing at a rate of 0.01 s−1. Molecular relaxation and its characteristics were influenced by PLA degradation, PBAT droplet coalescence, and nanoclay localization.

China's limited transparency concerning its defence spending harms strategic trust, but foreign analysts often lose sight of important realities. Specific details remain unclear, but China's defence spending overall is no mystery – it supports PLA modernization and personnel development as well as its announced objectives of securing China's homeland and asserting control over contested territorial and maritime claims, with a focus on the Near Seas (the Yellow, East, and South China seas). This article offers greater context and perspective for Chinese and Western discussions of China's rise and concomitant military build-up through a nuanced and comprehensive assessment of its defence spending and military transparency.