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Effect of SEBS on morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of PP/organoclay nanocomposites

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Abstract

A simultaneously increase in stiffness and toughness is needed for improving polypropylene (PP) competitiveness in automotive industry. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of styrene-(ethylene-co-butylene)-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) on mechanical and thermal properties of PP, in the presence and the absence of nanoclay. The amount of SEBS in PP was ranged to obtain the matrix with the most favorable stiffness–toughness balance. For this purpose, SEBS domain size and distribution in PP/SEBS blends was determined by means of atomic force microscopy and correlated with mechanical properties. The influence of SEBS on the crystalline structure of PP in PP/organoclay nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, a synergistic effect of SEBS and nanoclay being pointed out. Moreover large improvement in the impact strength (almost 22 times) was obtained in the case of SEBS-containing nanocomposite in comparison with the composite without SEBS.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the 7th framework program of the European Union (Project NANOTOUGH FP7-NMP-2007-LARGE).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer, National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021, Bucharest, Romania

    Zina Vuluga, Denis Mihaela Panaitescu, Cristian Nicolae & Michaela Doina Iorga

  2. Department of Analysis, National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021, Bucharest, Romania

    Constantin Radovici

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  1. Zina Vuluga
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  2. Denis Mihaela Panaitescu
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  3. Constantin Radovici
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  4. Cristian Nicolae
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  5. Michaela Doina Iorga
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Correspondence to Denis Mihaela Panaitescu.

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Vuluga, Z., Panaitescu, D.M., Radovici, C. et al. Effect of SEBS on morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of PP/organoclay nanocomposites. Polym. Bull. 69, 1073–1091 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-012-0780-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-012-0780-4

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