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Effect of different compatibilisers on nanoclay dispersion, thermal stability, and burning behavior of polypropylene–nanoclay blends
Author(s) -
Kandola Baljinder K.,
Smart Gillian,
Horrocks A. Richard,
Joseph Paul,
Zhang Sheng,
Hull T. Richard,
Ebdon John,
Hunt Barry,
Cook Andy
Publication year - 2008
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.27296
Subject(s) - polypropylene , materials science , limiting oxygen index , composite material , maleic anhydride , flammability , thermal stability , dispersion (optics) , nanocomposite , compression molding , molding (decorative) , polymer chemistry , polymer , copolymer , chemical engineering , combustion , chemistry , organic chemistry , char , mold , physics , optics , engineering
The dispersion of nanoclays in nonpolar polypropylene (PP) is difficult without the use of a small fraction (1–3%) of modified grafted PP as a compatibiliser. This work reports the effect of different graft‐modified polypropylenes on the dispersion of nanoclays in PP, and thermal stability and flammability of the blends. PP has been compounded in a Brabender compounder with a selection of modified PP polymers as compatibilisers. The grafts include maleic anhydride, N ‐ethylmaleimide, diethylmaleate, diethyl‐ p ‐vinylbenzyl phosphonate, and acrylic acid‐2‐[(diethoxyphosphoryl)methylamino] ethyl ester. Films were cast from the blends by compression molding and the nanocomposite structures assessed using X‐ray diffraction. Thermal characterization was performed using DSC and TGA, the burning behavior was observed using limiting oxygen index measurements, and cone calorimetry where samples were exposed to 35 kW/m 2 external heat flux. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008