(A) study on PP/rubber/amine treated organo clay nanocomposite

Abstract

In this study, the effect of amine group on PP/rubber/clay nanocomposite and the position of silicate layers were investigated. The silicate layers are treated with two different kinds of amine(HMDA and Jeffamine D230). Two kinds of compatibilizer (Polybond 3200[PP-g-MA] and Exxellor VA 1803[EPR-g-MA]) were used. In the case of Polybond 3200, the functional group is on the PP chains while Exxellor VA1803 has the functional group on rubber chain. The amine group on both organoclay can react with MA groups. So the position of silicate layers would be different depending on the compatibilizer and this was confirmed by TEM. The amine treated silicate layers were obtained through direct insertion of amine in molten state using Brabender mixer. From the XRD results, it was observed that the amine group was successfully penetrated into silicate layers. Nanocomposites were prepared with these organoclays by melt intercalation. The morphology, thermal properties, mechanical properties (especially tensile properties and impact strength) and crystallization kinetics were investigated. Although silicate layers can act as a nucleating agents, only BH series (compatibilizer: PP-g-MA and amine: HMDA) show nucleating effect. From the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics, it was found that the silicate layers can make the overall crystallization rate faster although it can retard the spherulite growth rate. In the case of mechanical property, BC series show higher flexural modulus among the samples and little enhancement in impact strength. BH and BJ series, however, show higher enhancement in impact strength and flexural modulus. In the case of BH03, the impact strength increased about 50% and 70% compared to B_reference sample and BC01, respectively. On the other hands, only EC01 series show higher flexural modulus than E_reference and the others show lower value. Although impact strength of EH and EJ series increased a little compared to EC series, only 1wt of nanoc...