pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: Blends, Reactive Systems & Elastomers
Poster Presentation
 
 

Clay-based Janus particles as compatibilizing agent in polymer blends

Ferreira Creusa (1)*, Daitx Tales (1), Gross Jacoby Caroline (1), Schneider Paulo Henrique (1), Mauler Raquel Santos (1)

(1) Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil

The blending of polymers is an interesting route to obtain new materials with superior properties. The main challenge in blending them is to overcome the immiscibility, thus compatibilization is necessary to control the morphology and interfacial adhesion of these materials. Nanosized particles are being used as compatibilizing, or at least morphology-stabilizing, affecting the microstructure and improving some properties of the blends. In this context, Janus particles have been studied due its surface-active properties which lead to a particle polymer surface tension of zero on both sides of the blend interface. Aluminosilicates are clays with symmetrical structure that displays no Janus character. Furthermore, the simple modification of the clay with alkyl ammonium cations is insufficient to tune the surface tension to fall between the interfacial tensions of the two polymer phases. Kaolinite is a non-symmetrical clay that has a natural Janus character but with similar surface tension on the external basal surfaces. Janus particles could be produced by chemical modification of this clay with different polymers according its application. Polystyrene-poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer blends with different particle contents were prepared using a polymer-modified clay hybrid Janus particle as a compatibilizer. The clay was modified on the opposing basal planes (tetrahedral and octahedral) with different functional groups on each side but chemically alike to the polymers. The morphology of the blends were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and showed the well distributed and selective localization of the particles at the interface between the polymer phases. The morphology change of the blend with decreased domain diameter was an evidence of the compatibilizing effect of the particles. Dynamic mechanical analysis changed as increasing the tougher material in the composition and the use of the clay improved the storage modulus of the materials.