Premium
Influence of processing method on the exfoliation process for organically modified clay systems. I. Polyurethanes
Author(s) -
Rhoney Ian,
Brown Steven,
Hudson Nicholas E.,
Pethrick Richard A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.13302
Subject(s) - montmorillonite , materials science , nanocomposite , exfoliation joint , dispersion (optics) , polymer , composite material , polyurethane , rheology , glass transition , dynamic mechanical analysis , graphene , nanotechnology , physics , optics
The influence of different processing methods on the nature of the dispersion achieved in the creation of a polyurethane nanocomposite is presented. The nanocomposites were produced using two different types of organically modified montmorillonite clays and a sample of fine particles of silicon nitride as a reference material. Rheological data were used to assess the nature of the dispersion achieved using the different processing methods. The nature of the dispersion produced was characterized using wide‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements of the finally cured products. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis was used to investigate the effect of the incorporation of clay platelets into the matrix of the polymer. The high‐temperature modulus provides evidence of the interaction between the polymer and the clay platelets; however, surprisingly, the glass transition temperatures of the filled and unfilled materials were almost identical. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1335–1343, 2004