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Simultaneous polypropylene functionalization and nanoclay dispersion in PP/Clay nanocomposites using ultrasound
Author(s) -
MartínezColunga Juan G.,
SánchezValdés Saul,
RamosdeValle L. F.,
MuñozJiménez Libertad,
RamírezVargas Eduardo,
IbarraAlonso Maria Cristina.,
LozanoRamirez Tomas,
Lafleur Pierre G.
Publication year - 2014
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.40631
Subject(s) - materials science , surface modification , polypropylene , nanocomposite , maleic anhydride , sonication , dispersion (optics) , montmorillonite , composite material , plastics extrusion , polymer , compatibilization , chemical engineering , polymer blend , copolymer , physics , optics , engineering
Polypropylene nanocomposite materials were prepared with 5 and 10 wt % cloisite C20A clay, jointly with 0.6 and 1.2 wt % of maleic anhydride (MA) for the simultaneous polymer functionalization and clay dispersion in a twin screw extruder assisted with ultrasonic irradiation, using different sonication intensities (231, 347, and 462 W, which correspond to 30%, 45%, and 60% of the maximum instrument intensity, “770 W”) all in a single‐step operation. The MA polymer functionalization was followed by FTIR spectroscopy and determined by titration. The increase in modulus of the obtained PP/Clay nanocomposites was attributed to the greater dispersion level, presumably achieved becuase of the joint application of the PP–Clay compatibilization with MA and the sonication during processing in a twin screw extruder. The greater level of clay dispersion was verified by the displacement of the XRD diffraction peak to lower angles, indicating an intercalated‐exfoliated structure that was corroborated by STEM. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 40631.