Studies on Mechanical Characterization of Polypropylene/Na+-MMT Nanocomposites

Abstract

This article addresses the effect of montmorillonite (MMT) on the morphology, and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP). PP/MMT nanocomposites have been prepared by melt mixing using maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAH-g-PP) as compatibilizing agents. Melt mixing was achieved using twin screw extruder. The MAH-g-PP used as compatibilizer helped the dispersion of the MMT in PP matrix. The influence of MMT on the impact fracture morphology of the nanocomposites was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The polymer composites were characterized by using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), tranmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mechanical characterization as per ASTM standards. The mechanical properties of strength and modulus of the nanocomposites increases with addition of 5 wt% of nanoclay and impact strength and hardness of the nanocomposites increses with addition of 3 wt% of nanoclay.

Share and Cite:

V. Selvakumar, K. Palanikumar and K. Palanivelu, "Studies on Mechanical Characterization of Polypropylene/Na+-MMT Nanocomposites," Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, Vol. 9 No. 8, 2010, pp. 671-681. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2010.98048.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Handbook of Polypropylene and Polypropylene Composites, second Edition, Marcel dekker.Inc.(2003).
[2] J.I.Weon, H.-J.Sue: Journal of Material Science 41 (2006) 2291-2300.
[3] Gu-Su Jang, Won-Jei Cho, Chang-Sik Ha: Journal of Polymer Science: part B: Polymer Physics 39 (2001) 1001-1016.
[4] Roya Khalil, Andrew George chryss: Journal of Material Science 42 (2007) 10219-10227.
[5] K.Kanny.P.Jawahar, V.K.Moodley: Journal of Material Science 43(2008) 7230-7238.
[6] Jeong Hyun Park et al: Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 69 (2008), 1375-1378.
[7] M.Garcia et al: Rev.Adv.Mater.Sci. 6 (2004) 169-175.
[8] Xiaohui Liu, Qiuju Wu: Polymer 42 (2001) 10013-10019
[9] Ludovic cauvin et al: C.R.Mecanique 335 (2007) 702-707.
[10] D.Garcia-lopez et al: Polymer Bulletin, 59 (2007) 667-676.
[11] T.C.Chung: Journal of Organ Metallic Chemistry 690 (2005) 6292-6199.
[12] Laszlo Szazdi et al: Polymer, 46(2005) 8001-8010.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.