Polymers and Polymer Composites

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYPROPYLENE LAYERED-SILICATE NANOCOMPOSITES

March 1, 2006 By: Suzhu Yu; Songlin Liu; Jianhong Zhao; Hong Xie; Ming Shyan Yong Research article

Title: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYPROPYLENE LAYERED-SILICATE NANOCOMPOSITES
Page Range: p.271-279
Author(s): Suzhu Yu; Songlin Liu; Jianhong Zhao; Hong Xie; Ming Shyan Yong
File size: 213K
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 14
Issue No: No. 3

Abstract
Organoclay reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation using extrusion, and their structural, rheological and mechanical properties were investigated. The morphologies of the composites were observed with TEM and the linear viscoelastic and flow properties were studied as a function of temperature and organoclay concentration. An increase in the organoclay concentration from 1 to 7.5 wt% resulted in an increase in the loss and storage moduli as well as in the steady shear viscosity of nanocomposites at different temperatures, particularly at low frequencies. The steady shear viscosity of both PP and its nanocomposites exhibited Newtonian behaviour at low shear rates followed by a shear thinning region. The onset of shear thinning occurred at significantly lower shear rates. The elastic modulus of the PP nanocomposite containing 10 wt% of organoclay was increased by around 25% compared to the neat PP. 20 refs.


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