Premium
Comparative Characterization of PP Nano‐ and Microcomposites by In‐Mold Shrinkage Measurements and Structural Characteristics
Author(s) -
RevillaDíaz Rodolfo,
SánchezValdés Saúl,
LópezCampos Fernando,
MedellínRodríguez Francisco Javier,
LópezQuintanilla Maria Luisa
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200700019
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , compounding , nanocomposite , thermal stability , shrinkage , flexural strength , filler (materials) , dynamic mechanical analysis , calcium carbonate , fiber , composite number , polymer , chemical engineering , engineering
Poly(propylene)‐clay nanocomposites and poly(propylene) containing conventional inorganic fillers such as calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) and glass fiber were used in a comparative study focusing on dimensional stability, structure, mechanical and thermal properties. Micro‐ and nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending in a twin‐screw extruder. The relative influence of each filler was observed from dimensional stability measurements and structural analysis by WAXD, TEM, and thermal and mechanical properties. At equal filler loadings, PP/clay nanocomposites exhibit an improvement in dimensional stability and were the only composites capable of reduced shrinkage in both in‐flow and cross‐flow directions. The flexural modulus of PP increased nearly 20% by compounding with 4% organoclay, as compared to a similar performance obtained by compounding with 10 wt.‐% of CaCO 3 or approximately 6 wt.‐% of glass fiber. The HDT and thermal stability of PP were enhanced by using nanoclay as filler.