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The excellent gas barrier properties and unique mechanical properties of poly(propylene carbonate)/organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites

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Abstract

Intercalated nanocomposites comprised of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) and organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) were prepared via a direct melt blending method. The morphological, thermal, rheological, mechanical, and gas barrier properties of composites were carried out in detail. Results of XRD, TEM, and SEM revealed that OMMT dispersed homogeneously in the polymer matrix, and were intercalated by PPC macromolecules. Compared with neat PPC, the PPC/OMMT nanocomposites showed an enhancement in the 5 wt% weight loss temperature (T −5%) by near 20 °C with 3 phr OMMT concentration. With the percolation threshold formed, the rheological properties of composites translated from a liquid-like behavior to a solid-like one. Interestingly, PPC/OMMT nanocomposites revealed a concurrent improvement in the modulus, yield strength, and toughness with the addition of homogeneously dispersed clay. The oxygen permeability of well-dispersed PPC/OMMT nanocomposites reduced significantly compared with that of neat PPC. Consequently, this convenient and effective method, which facilitates to prepare PPC/OMMT nanocomposites with superior mechanical properties and excellent gas barrier performances, can be considered to broaden the application of PPC.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Government of Taian city and Science and Technology Department of Shandong Province (2015ZDZX11002). Part of this work is supported by program of Cooperation of Hubei Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jilin Province Science and Technology Agency (20160204030GX), and program of Changchun Municipal Scientific and Technologic Development (16SS16).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130022, People’s Republic of China

    Junjun Kong, Zonglin Li, Zenwen Cao, Changyu Han & Lisong Dong

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 10080, People’s Republic of China

    Junjun Kong & Zonglin Li

  3. University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Zenwen Cao

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  1. Junjun Kong
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  2. Zonglin Li
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Correspondence to Changyu Han or Lisong Dong.

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Kong, J., Li, Z., Cao, Z. et al. The excellent gas barrier properties and unique mechanical properties of poly(propylene carbonate)/organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites. Polym. Bull. 74, 5065–5082 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-017-2002-6

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