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The Effect of ultra‐high speed twin screw extrusion on ABS/organoclay nanocomposite blend properties
Author(s) -
Farahanchi Azadeh,
Boehm Emily,
Orbey Nese,
Malloy Robert
Publication year - 2017
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.24385
Subject(s) - organoclay , materials science , nanocomposite , exfoliation joint , composite material , rheology , extrusion , intercalation (chemistry) , plastics extrusion , nanotechnology , graphene , inorganic chemistry , chemistry
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) nanocomposites containing Cloisite 11 organoclay at 2 wt% were prepared using a 60 L/D ultra‐ high speed twin screw extruder (TSE), with speeds ranging from 400 to 4000 rpm. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high shear melt processing on the intercalation and exfoliation of organoclay in the polymer, as well as the mechanical and rheological properties of the material. X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) results showed better intercalation of the nanofiller with increasing screw speed up to a point, and indicated an exfoliated structure of the nanocomposites extruded at 4000 rpm. Mechanical and rheological testing results indicated that by adding organoclay to ABS, the properties improved with increasing screw speed up to an optimum value of 2000 rpm. However, at the higher screw speeds of 3000 and 4000 rpm, the intense shear history led to a decrease in properties, most likely due to chain scission and molecular weight reduction. Similar trends were observed in rheological properties of the nanocomposite as well. At 2000 rpm, the results indicate that the lowering of the molecular weight due to shear effects is balanced by good intercalation/exfoliation of the organoclay. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:60–68, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers