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Improving the exfoliation of layered silicate in a poly(ethylene terephthalate) matrix using supercritical carbon dioxide
Author(s) -
Samaniuk Joseph,
Litchfield David,
Baird Donald
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.21482
Subject(s) - materials science , exfoliation joint , compounding , supercritical carbon dioxide , supercritical fluid , composite material , silicate , rheology , polymer , matrix (chemical analysis) , plastics extrusion , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , chemistry , graphene , engineering
A technique for improving the exfoliation of organically modified layered silicate (OMLS) in a poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) matrix using super critical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) is compared to traditional direct melt blending. The process relies on the rapid expansion of a scCO 2 /OMLS mixture directly into the second stage of a single screw extruder where the clay and scCO 2 mixture is subsequently melt blended with the PET matrix. The simple, environmentally benign process results in a more highly delaminated system than traditional direct melt compounding. X‐ray diffraction analysis is used to reveal improved clay morphologies and the resulting mechanical properties are examined. Rheology is used as a tool to draw conclusions about the effect that scCO 2 has on reducing PET matrix degradation during processing. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers