pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S02 - Polymer Blends and Alloys
Oral Presentation
 
 

Influence of Glass flake nanoparticles on thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of PP/EVA blends: Correlation with microstructure

Otady Maryam (1)*, Solymani Maryam (1), Goodarzi Vahabodin (2)

(1) Islamic Azad University - Tehran - Iran, (2) Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences - Tehran - Iran

ABSTRACT In this work attempts were made to establish correlation between thermal, dynamic mechanical properties and morphological properties of polypropylene/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (PP/EVA) blends containing glass flake (GF) as an inorganic nano-filler. Compatibilized and non-compatibilized PP/EVA blends loaded with 5 wt.% of GF were prepared by melt mixing process and their thermal and dynamic mechanical properties were determined. TEM investigations revealed that the GF nanoparticles were mainly located within the EVA phase of the blend. Also, microstructure of blends studied by SEM showed that incorporation of GF into the blends led to reduction of dispersed domain size attributed to reduction of interfacial tension due to the filler presence. Melting temperature of PP loaded with 5 wt.% of GF was increased up to 11oC as compared to the neat PP. Addition of GF and PP-g-MAH as compatibilizer to PP/EVA blend increased melting and crystallization temperatures determined by DSC. DMTA studies showed that addition of GF into the blends had no positive effect on the storage modulus of nanocomposites while, their loss modulus were higher than that of the neat PP. Moreover, the β transition temperature of PP phase in the blends loaded with GF and compatibilizer was about 5oC higher than the neat PP. The thermo-oxidative and thermal degradation behavior of developed nanocomposites determined by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that thermal stability of nanocomposites was improved and their rate of degradation was reduced which were attributed to network-like structure formation of nano-fillers in the blends. Keywords: Nanocomposites; polypropylene; Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer; blends; Glass flake; Dynamic mechanical properties