Polymer/Clay Nanocomposites -Designing through Processing Operations -
Masami Okamoto, Suprakas Sinha Ray
Toyota Technological Institute
japan

Keywords: Nanocomposites, Processing, Rheology

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We discussed the enhancement of mechanical properties for Nylon 6/clay nanocomposite containing 3.7wt% montmorillonite (N6CN3.7) subjected to shear-processing in relation with its rheological properties. Under elongational flow, N6CN3.7 melt showed a weak tendency of strain-induced hardening as compared to that of intercalated polypropylene (PP)/clay nanocomposite melt containing 4.0 wt% montmorillonite (PPCN4). In contrast, with slow shear rate (=0.001s-1), shear viscosity of N6CN3.7 exhibited a much stronger rheopexy behavior with almost two order of magnitude higher than that of PPCN4. Both strong rheopexy behavior and enhancement of bending modulus were originated from the perpendicular alignment of the silicate layers to the shear flow direction. The possibility to control the mechanical properties of N6CN3.7 through processing operations was demonstrated.
In addition, we also discuss foam processing of intercalated polycarbonate(PC)/clay nanocomposites which have been prepared successfully through melt intercalation method in presence of compatibilizer