Nonisothermal crystallization behavior of PP/rubber/clay nanocomposite

Abstract

Two different PP/rubber/clay nanocomposites, one having maleic anhydride in the PP matrix and the other having maleic anhydride in the rubber phase, were prepared by melt mixing using Brabender mixer. To enhance the dispersion of organoclay, the organoclay was treated further by amines as intercalating agent, which can react with a maleic anhydride group in the compatibilizer. The presence of maleic anhydride either in the PP phase or rubber phase could help disperse the clay selectively in the PP phase or rubber phase. Two different amines (HMDA and Jeffamine D230) Polybond3200 and Exxellor VA1803 were used. The amine treated silicate layers were made by melt intercalation using a Brabender mixer. The insertion of amine groups was checked by XRD. The nonisothermal crystallization behavior of these nanocomposites was examined to determine the effect of the location of the silicate layers. POM(polarized optical microscopy) showed that the silicate layers retarded spherulite growth rate because the clay could act as an obstacle against the movement of chain. A nanocomposite with silicate layers in the PP matrix showed a higher overall crystallization rate than the reference samples due to the larger number of effective nuclei.