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Organomodification of montmorillonite and its effects on the properties of poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Phua Y.J.,
Chow W.S.,
Mohd Ishak Z.A.
Publication year - 2013
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.23460
Subject(s) - organoclay , materials science , nanocomposite , thermogravimetric analysis , montmorillonite , differential scanning calorimetry , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , composite material , maleic anhydride , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , polymer , copolymer , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
The pristine sodium montmorillonite (MMT) was organically modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) at different contents. The organoclay was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray techniques, and thermogravimetric analysis. Then, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) nanocomposites were prepared by melt‐mixing process using maleic anhydride‐grafted PBS (PBS‐ g ‐MA) as compatibilizer. It was found that the mechanical properties of PBS nanocomposites filled with organoclay were apparently higher than that of the nanocomposite filled with MMT. This is attributed to the better filler–matrix interactions between PBS and the organoclay and the better filler dispersion. This is verifiable through the XRD, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The addition of PBS‐ g ‐MA further improved the mechanical properties. It was also found that our laboratory synthesized organoclay modified with HTAB has provided a better reinforcing efficiency when compared with the commercial octadecylamine‐modified organoclay. Besides that the thermal properties of PBS nanocomposites were studied through differential scanning calorimetry. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers