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Two‐dimensional mullite nanostructure: Synthesis and reinforcement effect on polypropylene/maleic anhydride graft ethylene vinyl acetate matrix
Author(s) -
Varghese Anish Mathai,
Singh Swati,
Muthukumaraswamy Rangaraj Vengatesan,
Mittal Vikas
Publication year - 2019
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.48233
Subject(s) - materials science , maleic anhydride , polypropylene , nanocomposite , vinyl acetate , ethylene vinyl acetate , polymer chemistry , composite material , copolymer , chemical engineering , crystallinity , polymer , engineering
In the present work, we studied the reinforcement effect of mullite nanosheets (MNs) on the properties of polypropylene (PP)/maleic anhydride graft ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA‐g‐MA) blend matrix. MNs have been prepared in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the macromolecular surfactant through the sol–gel process followed by a thermal annealing method. The sheet‐like morphology of mullite was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy analysis. The surface of the MNs was modified using 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane. One weight percent of amine‐functionalized MNs (AMNs) improved the impact strength of PP/EVA‐g‐MA blend matrix, which is about 52%. Melt rheology analysis resulted that the nanocomposite exhibited a viscous behavior up to 2.5 wt % of AMNs and above the content ensued a viscoelastic solid‐like behavior. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed a complete dispersion of AMNs in the PP/EVA‐g‐MA blend matrix. TEM analysis confirmed that the MNs sheets are residing mostly in EVA‐g‐MA phase and the interface of PP/EVA‐g‐MA blend. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 48233.