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Rheological properties and crystal morphology of poly(ethylene oxide)/clay nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Ratna Debdatta,
Abraham Thomas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.21140
Subject(s) - organoclay , materials science , nanocomposite , dynamic mechanical analysis , rheology , composite material , montmorillonite , crystallization , rheometer , viscoelasticity , intercalation (chemistry) , dynamic modulus , ethylene oxide , chemical engineering , polymer , copolymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by a solution intercalation method. The crystallization behavior of the nanocomposites was investigated by a cross‐polarized optical microscopy (CPOM) fitted with a hot‐stage facility. A decrease in size and regularity were observed as a result of incorporation of clay into the PEO matrix. The dynamic viscoelastic behavior of PEO/organoclay nanocomposites was assessed using a strain‐controlled parallel plate rheometer. The effects of clay concentration on the rheological properties of the nanocomposites were extensively studied. A significant increase in the viscosity and storage modulus of the nanocomposites was found with increasing clay content. The reinforcing effect of the organoclay was determined by using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and compared with the theoretically calculated values. POLYM. COMPOS., © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers.