Effect of organoclay type on the properties of polypropylene nanocomposites
Tavares Albaniza Alves (1), silva Diêgo Fabríciio A. (1), Raposo Claudia Maria de Oliveira (2), Andrade Daniela de Lourdes Anjos Coutinho Simões (1), Canedo Eduardo Luís (1), Silva Suédina Maria de Lima (1)*
(1) Department of Materials Engineering UFCG - Campina Grande - Brazil, (2) Department of of Mining and Geology UFCG - Campina Grande - Brazil
Nanocomposites of polypropylene (PP) were prepared by melt mixing using maleic anhydride modified polypropylene (PPm) and different organoclays (ANOC, MPH and C20A). The selected organo-modified clays differ in amount and type of surfactant and/or their cation-exchange capacity. All composites have 84, 15 and 1 wt% of PP, PPm and organoclay, respectively. The materials were characterized using wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-vis) and mechanical tests. The WAXS data suggest intercalated morphology for nanocomposites with C20A and predominantly exfoliated morphology for nanocomposites with ANOC e MPH. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were higher than those of the polymer matrix especially for nanocomposites with organoclay MPH and the transparency was similar to the pure polymer. tese characteristics made them suitable for packaging applications.
Keywords: nanocomposites, polypropylene, organoclay