Polypropylene‐(PP)‐based nanocomposites with unmodified and surface‐modified nanosized calcium carbonate (CaCO3) were melt‐compounded to 3, 6, and 9 wt% filler contents. The nanofillers comprised two commercial grades from Mineral Technologies and one noncommercial pilot grade, and they differed in their particle size and/or surface modification. The fillers' dispersion and particle size and their adhesion to the matrix were examined by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, nanocomposite mechanical properties were determined and then compared with the properties of neat matrix material. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were performed to determine the stearic acid content in the surface‐modified fillers and their thermal stability. Microscopic examination revealed that the commercial grades dispersed better in and adhered more strongly to the matrix than the pilot grade. Thermal analysis showed that the commercial grade contained less stearic acid and was thermally more stable. Better dispersion, smaller particle size distribution, and less stearic acid seemed to result in balanced mechanical performance. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
The effects of adhesion promoter properties on the structure and mechanical behavior of nanoclay-filled polyolefin nanocomposites are presented. Two different maleic anhydride-modified polypropylenes having varying maleic anhydride content and molecular weight were used. The influence of these parameters on the performance and morphology of the prepared polypropylene and high density polyethylene-based nanocomposites was examined by mechanical testing, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. The low molecular weight adhesion promoter seemed to be effective in both matrices in relation to mechanical property enhancements, whereas its high molecular weight counterpart performed well only in polyethylene matrix. X-ray diffraction results and examination of morphology revealed that the intercalation and the dispersion of the nanoclay were more even in both matrices when the low molecular weight adhesion promoter with a higher maleic anhydride content was used. On the other hand, the use of high molecular weight adhesion promoter led to a less uniform dispersion but also to a greater amount of exfoliated clay particles.
The differences that direct melt compounding and masterbatch dilution cause in the properties of melt compounded polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene‐based (PE‐HD) nanocomposites are presented. The results include comparison of properties and morphology of directly melt processed organoclay nanocomposites with similar compounds diluted from commercial and in‐house‐made masterbatches to clay concentrations of 1, 3, 6, and 8 wt%. The compounds were prepared with a co‐rotating Brabender twin‐screw extruder. The degree of exfoliation and the dispersion of the nanoclay were verified with transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Thermal stability of the materials was examined with thermogravimetric analysis and the mechanical properties of the compounded materials were also determined. The most promising results regarding mechanical behavior were achieved with the in‐house‐made masterbatch in the form of a notable increase in Young's modulus in both matrices. There was also a distinct increase in impact strength when masterbatch was used. Changes were more pronounced in case of PP. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
The effect of various fillers on the mechanical, barrier, and flammability properties of polypropylene (PP) was studied. PP was filled with 4 wt% of nano‐sized calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, organoclay, and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). For comparison, micron‐sized calcium carbonate was also studied. Two‐step masterbatch dilution approach of the composites suggested no or only minor improvements in Young's modulus and tensile yield strength, whereas their ductility decreased compared to coupling agent‐modified PP matrix. The water vapor transmission results of filled films showed increased permeability compared to their coupling agent‐modified counterpart. Oxygen permeability, however, decreased for the composites. The MWCNT‐filled matrix showed the highest barrier and fire performance, attributed mainly to its higher filler volume content, but also other reasons such as the effect of filler dispersion, composite's thermal stability, and polymer crystallinity were discussed.POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Mechanical and tribological properties of melt-compounded titanium dioxide nanocomposites of atomic-layer-deposition (ALD)-coated polyamide particles and commercial nanofillers were compared. The nanofiller dispersion in the polyamide matrix was studied using transmission electron microscopy showing very different morphology for the ALD-created and the traditional nanocomposites: former appearing as ribbons in the matrix whereas latter composing from spherical clusters. The effect of such morphology change on the specimen’s mechanical response subjected to tensile and impact loading was investigated. The results demonstrated that ALD-created nanocomposites possess significantly higher Young’s modulus than pure and traditionally filled polyamide matrix. However, transition from ductile to brittle behavior occurs especially for the ALD-created nanocomposites. Notched impact strength experiments supported this, suggesting that the impact strength of ALD-created composites decreased significantly compared to pure polyamide matrix, whereas traditionally melt-compounded nanocomposites showed no significant changes. Furthermore, the tribological properties of the selected specimens were determined and the effect of the nanofiller on the friction and scratching properties of the polyamide matrix is discussed.
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