Ethylene octane copolymer–polypropylene (PP) blend was optimized at 30 wt% of ethylene octane copolymer with PP and the same ratio was kept constant for preparing ethylene octane copolymer–PP nanocomposites (70/30). The nanocomposites were prepared with commercially modified organoclays (C20A and C30B) and laboratory-modified organoclays (OMMT-I and OMMT-II) in the ratio of 3, 5, and 7 wt%. The compatibilizer polypropylene-grafted maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) was used to get the exfoliated nanocomposites in the ratio of 5, 10, and 15 wt% for C20A, C30B, OMMT-I, and OMMT-II nanocomposites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicated the formation of well-exfoliated morphology at 5 wt% of organoclay and 5 wt% of PP-g-MA compatibilizer. The increase in tensile properties due to the reinforcing effect imparted by organoclays along with high aspect ratio of the clay pallets allowed a greater degree of stress transfer at the interface.
Okada A, Fukushima Y, Kawasumi M, Inagaki S, Usuk A, Sugiyami S, et al. US Patent No. 4739007; 1988 [assigned to Toyota Motor Co., Japan].
2.
ReichertPNitzHKlinkeSBrandschRThomannRMulhauptR. Poly (propylene)/organoclay nanocomposites formation: Influence of comptabilizer functionality and organoclay modification. Macromol Mater Eng2000; 275: 8–17.
3.
VaiaRAGiannelisEP. Polymer nanocomposites: status and opportunities. MRS Bull2001; 26(5): 394–401.
4.
DennisHRHunterDLChangDKimSWhiteJLChoJW. Effect of melt processing conditions on the extent of exfoliation in organoclay-based nanocomposites. Polymer2001; 42(23): 9513–9522.
5.
KawasumiMHasegawaNKatoMUsukiAOkadaA. Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene–Clay Hybrids. Macromolecules1997; 30(20): 6333–6338.
6.
HasegawaNKawasumiMKatoMUsukiAOkadaA. Preparation and mechanical properties of polypropylene–clay hybrids using a maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene oligomer. J Appl Polym Sci1998; 67(1): 87–92.
GarcesJMMollDJBiceranoJFibigerRMcLeodDG. Polymeric Nanocomposites for Automotive Applications. Adv Mater2000; 12(23): 1835–1839.
9.
HasegawaNOkamotoHKawasumiMKatoMTsukigaseAUsukiA. Polyolefin Clay hybrid based on modified polyolefin and organoclay. Macromol Mater Eng2000; 280/281: 76–79.
10.
IshidaHCampbellSBlackwellJ. General approach to nanocomposite preparation. J Chem Mater2000; 12(5): 1260–1267.
11.
LiuXWuQ. PP/clay nanocomposites prepared by grafting-melt intercalation. Polymer2001; 42(25): 10013–10019.
12.
MarchantDJayaramanK. Strategies for Optimizing Polypropylene–Clay Nanocomposite Structure. Ind Eng Chem Res2002; 41(25): 6402–6408.
13.
Garcia-LopezDPicazoOMerinoJCPastorJM. Propylene-Clay naocomposites: Effect of compatibilizing agents on clay dispersion. Eur Polym J2003; 39(5): 945–950.
14.
HasegawaNUsukiA. Silicate layer exfoliation in polyolefin/clay nanocomposites based on maleic anhydride modified polyolefins and organophilic clay. J Appl Polym Sci2004; 93(1): 464–470.
15.
EllisTSD’AngeloJS. Synthesis and Properties of Nylon-6/clay Hybrids. J Appl Polym Sci2003; 90(6): 1639–1647.
Garcia-Martinez JM, Laguna O, Areso S and Collar EP. Polypropylene/mica composites modified by succinic anhydride-grafted atactic polypropylene: a thermal and mechanical study under dynamic conditions. J Appl polym Sci 2001; 81: 625–36.
18.
StamhuisJE. Mechanical properties and morphology of polypropylene composites. III. Short glass fiber reinforced elastomer modified polypropylene. Polym Compos1998; 9(4): 280–284.
Data provided by D.L. Hunter of Southern Clay Products Inc.
21.
JancarJDibenedettoAT. The mechanical properties of ternary composites of polypropylene with inorganic fillers and elastomer inclusions. J Mater Sci1994; 29(17): 4651–4658.
LongYShanksRA. PP/elastomer/filler hybrids. II. Morphologies and fracture. J Appl Polym Sci1996; 62(4): 639–646.
24.
Premphet-SirisinhaKPreechachon. Changes in morphology and properties by grafting reaction in PP/EOR/CaCO3 ternary composites. J Appl Polym Sci2003; 89(13): 3557–3562.
25.
OuY-CGuoT-TFangX-PYuZ-Z. Toughening and reinforcing polypropylene with core-shell structured fillers. J Appl Polym Sci1999; 74(10): 2397–2403.
26.
LiYWeiG-XSueH-J. Morphology and toughening mechanisms in clay-modified styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber-toughened polypropylene. J Mater Sci2002; 37(12): 2447–2459.
27.
Zi-Kang Zhu, Yong Yang, Jie Yin, Xin-Yu Wang, Yang-Chuan Ke and Zong-Neng. Preparation and properties of organosoluble montmorillonite/polyimide hybrid materials. J Appl Polym Sci 1999; 73(11): 2063–2068.
28.
BingHanGendingJiShishanWuJianShen. Preparation and characterization of nylon 66/montmorillonite nanocomposites with co-treated montmorillonite. Euro Polym J2003; 39(8): 1641–1646.
29.
W. Lertwimolnun and B. Vergnes. Influence of compatibilizer and processing conditions on the dispersion of nanoclay in a polypropylene matrix, Polymer, 2005; 46; 3462.
30.
RaySSOkamotoM. Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposite: a review from preparation to processing. Prog Polym Sci2003; 28: 1539–1641.
FischerH. Polymer nanocomposites: from fundamental research to specific applications. Mater Sci Eng C2003; 23: 763–772.
33.
MorawiecJPawlakASloufMGaleskiAPiorkowskaEKransnikowaN. Preparation and properties of compatibilized LDPE/organo-modified montmorillonite nanocomposites. Eur Polym J2005; 41: 1115–1122.
34.
Rong MZ, Zhang MQ, Zhang YX, Zeng HM, Watter R and Fredrich K. Structure-property relationships of irradiation grafted nano-inorganic particle filled polypropylene nanocomposites, Polymer, 2001; 42; 167.
35.
AlexandreMDuboisP. Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites: preparation, properties and uses of a new class of materials. Mater Sci Eng2000; R 28: 1–63.
36.
ManiasETounyAWuLStrawheckerKLuBChungTC. Polypropylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites. Review of the synthetic routes and materials properties. Chem Mater2001; 13: 3516–3523.
37.
DasariALimSHYuZZMaiY. Aust Toughening, thermal stability, flame retardancy and scratch/wear resistance of polymer/clay nanocomposites – a review. J Chem2007; 60: 496–496.
38.
ChoJWPaulDR. Nylon 6 nanocomposites by melt compounding. Polymer2001; 42: 1083–1094.
39.
MasamiOkamoto. In: NalwaHS (ed.) Encyclopedia of nanoscience and nanotechnology2004; 91–843.
MessersmithPBGiannelisEP. Synthesis and barrier properties of poly (-caprolactone)-layered silicate nanocomposites. J Polym Sci Part A Polym Chem1995; 33: 1047–1057.
42.
AuriemmaEDeRosaC. Crystallization of Metallocene-Made Isotactic Polypropylene: Disordered Modifications Intermediate between the α and γ Forms. Macromolecules2002; 35: 9057–9057.
43.
Jui-Ming Yeh, Shir-Joe Liou, Mei-Chun Lai, Yu-Wen Chang, Cheng-Yu Huang, Chen-Ping Chen, Jenn-Huey Jaw, Tsung-Yen Tsai, Yuan-Hsiang Yu. Comparative Studies of the Properties of Poly(methylmethacrylate)-Clay Nanocomposite Materials Prepared by In Situ Emulsion Polymerization and Solution Dispersion. J. Applied Polymer Science, 2004; 94; 0; 1936–1946.
44.
Nayak SK, Smita Mohanty, Samal S, Mechanical and thermal properties enhancement of polycarbonate nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding. J. Applied Polymer Science, 2010; 117; 2101–2112.
