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Influence of a terpolymer compatibilizer on the nanostructure of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/montmorillonite nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Favaro Márcia M.,
Branciforti Márcia C.,
Bretas Rosario E. S.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.1343
Subject(s) - masterbatch , materials science , nanocomposite , montmorillonite , organoclay , composite material , phase (matter) , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , rheometer , chemical engineering , rheology , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
The use of a compatibilizer to improve the interactions between poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) and an organically treated montmorillonite (MMT) clay was studied. Nanocomposites, with and without compatibilizer, were obtained using a torque rheometer; their nanostructures were analyzed by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), steady state and dynamic rheological measurements, and Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT‐IR). Only intercalated structures were obtained when no compatibilizer was added, independent of the mixing method (one or two steps); when the compatibilizer was added, however, intercalated and exfoliated structures were obtained, depending on the masterbatch composition. When the PTT was not present in the masterbatch, two‐phase exfoliated structures were obtained, with a disperse phase composed of nanoclay's lamellas and reticulated compatibilizer and a matrix phase composed of PTT. The compatibilizer cured due to the presence of the nanoclay's surfactant; a mechanism of cure was proposed in which the epoxide rings of the compatibilizer reacted with the hydroxyl groups of the nanoclay's surfactant, forming ether cross‐linkages. It was also concluded that in order to obtain one‐phase exfoliated structures the two steps mixing method using a masterbatch composition of 50 wt% of PTT, 25 wt% of compatibilizer, and 25 wt% of nanoclay gave the best results; after further dilution in the PTT, an exfoliated nanocomposite with a final concentration of 5 wt% of compatibilizer and 5 wt% of nanoclay was obtained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.