Synthesis of a Novel Compatibilizer for Polypropylene Clay Nanocomposites
Polymer nanocomposites containing layered silicates have gained great attention due to their unique properties and potential applications. Nanocomposite materials consisting of polymeric matrix and clays, can be prepared by adjusting the interaction enthalpy between each component, by using special compatibilisation agents for the two intrinsically incompatible materials. As a general route of synthesis of nanocomposites, block copolymers combining one part of the polymer identical and/or strongly interacting with the organic polymer (matrix compound) and another part compatible with the natural mineral can be used. This compatibilisation leads to a separation of the clay into single layers and a subsequent uniform dispersion of these particles into the polymer matrix material. There has been much research in the field of inventing and synthesizing different compatibilisers. This research aims to synthesize polyoxyalkyleneamine-graft-polypropylene – unmodified clay nanocomposite. The compatibilisation of the grafted-polypropylene – clay was aided by maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA-PP). Solution blending was the method adopted in this experimentation for dispersing the components. A clay-grafted-polypropylene masterbatch was dispersed in pure polypropylene to prepare the nanocomposites. The polyoxyalkyleneamine used in this research undergoes typical amine reactions. Reaction mechanisms between amine and MA-PP were studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. This research aims to minimize the amount of
MA-PP in a conventional polypropylene nanocomposite and to use untreated sodium Montmorillonite. Thermogravimetry revealed better thermal stability of the nanocomposite compared with pure polypropylene. This research includes dynamic mechanical analysis and wide angle x-ray scattering analysis of the nanocomposite film.