Study Of Thermal And Mechanical Properties Of Clay/Polymer Nanocomposite Synthesized Via Modified Solution Blending

Abstract

The incorporation of layered nano-silicates in polymer matrix greatly enhances the properties of the polymer. At present, there are many applications of polymer nanocomposites including coatings and architectural, they are also parts of automotive and construction industry among others. The acrylics employed at the present study were based on butyl acrylate (BA), styrene (STY), and methacrylic acid (MAA), and the nano-clay was Na-montomorillonite (MMT). The MMT clay was added to the polymer, which is the mixing matrix in a physical state solution called blend. Furthermore, their mechanical, thermal and wettability of especially prepared acrylic montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were performed. By increasing the MMT in the polymer matrix concentration the Young’s modulus tends to increase it by an order of magnitude. However, by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), the thermograms show an increase in the glass transition temperature of nanocomposites for all weight percentages of MMT. Also, the wetting angle was determined, in order to know how much water is retained on the surface of the nanocomposite; the results showed that by increasing the particle of nano clay in the polymer matrix will induce a hydrophobic property to the nanocomposite.