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Effect of some compatibilizing agents on clay dispersion of polypropylene‐clay nanocomposites
Author(s) -
LópezQuintanilla M. L.,
SánchezValdés S.,
Ramos de Valle L. F.,
MedellínRodríguez F. J.
Publication year - 2006
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.23262
Subject(s) - exfoliation joint , montmorillonite , materials science , polypropylene , nanocomposite , dispersion (optics) , maleic anhydride , glycidyl methacrylate , composite material , mixing (physics) , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , polymer , copolymer , graphene , nanotechnology , physics , quantum mechanics , optics , engineering
Polypropylene (PP)‐clay nanocomposites were obtained and studied by using three different coupling agents, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), acrylic acid (AA), and maleic anhydride (MA). Three different clays, natural montmorillonite (Cloisite Na+) and chemically modified clays Cloisite 20A and Cloisite 30B, have also been used. Nanocomposites were prepared by melt‐blending in a twin‐screw extruder using two mixing methods: two‐step mixing and one‐step mixing. The relative influence of each factor was observed from structural analysis by WAXD, POM, TEM, and mechanical properties. The results were analyzed in terms of the effect of each compatibilizing agent and incorporation method in the clay dispersion and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite. Experimental results showed that clay dispersion and interfacial adhesion are greatly affected by the kind of matrix modification. The polarity and reactivity of polar groups give as a result better interfacial adhesion and subsequent mechanical performance. PP‐ g ‐GMA and PP‐ g ‐MA were better compatibilizing agents than PP‐ g ‐AA. Better dispersion and exfoliation for the nanoclays were obtained when using two‐step mixing than one‐step mixing conditions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4748–4756, 2006