This article relies on the effect of two types of nanoparticle on morphology and dynamic-mechanical properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) blends. The results of mechanical investigation revealed that tensile strength and modulus of PVC/NBR nanocomposites reinforced with 1 phr of single-walled nanotube (SWNT) are very close to the case of reinforced with 5 phr of nanoclay. The outcomes of dynamic-mechanical properties revealed that the storage modulus increases with the addition of nanoparticles and the intensity of tan  δ get reduced, in two cases. Morphological investigation of nanocomposites was determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In the case of PVC/NBR/nanoclay, fracture surface of specimens were much rough while the fracture surface of virgin PVC/NBR was very smooth. In PVC/NBR/SWNT nanocomposites, with introducing of carbon nanotubes to polymer matrix, dispersion and distribution of NBR as minor phase in PVC as matrix got improved.

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This work is concerned with the effect of hydrophilic organoclay on morphology development of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/polypropylene (PP) blends. The concentration of nanoclays is varied from 1, 3, and 5 phr of polymer blend. Morphological analysis of nanocomposites shows a pronounced refinement of phase morphology with the reduction of droplet size, as compared to neat PBT/PP blend. With the aid of transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and rheological measurements, it is found that organoclays are exclusively located in PBT matrix and at the interface. The nonhomogeneous distribution of organoclays at the interface results in coalescence suppression of droplets and reduction of interfacial tension. Moreover, viscosity and elasticity of matrix are increased with the confinement of organoclays in PBT, which ends up with easier breakup of droplets. According to our research, using nanoclay changes the elasticity ratio of phases that affects capillary number and morphology of the blend. Our calculation indicates that the minimum size of dispersed droplets occurs at elasticity ratio of 1.92.

The present research investigates the morphology and rheological behavior of poly(butylene terephthalate)/polypropylene (PBT/PP) blends containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic organoclays. The distribution of nanoclays and morphology of nanocomposites were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission and scanning electron microscopies. The XRD patterns show that the level of intercalation structure in nanocomposites reinforced by hydrophilic nanoclay is significantly higher than nanocomposites filled by hydrophobic one. According to morphological analysis, both types of nanocomposites indicate the reduction of droplet size, whereas hydrophilic nanoparticles illustrate more compatibilization efficiency than hydrophobic. According to transmission electron microscopy, hydrophilic nanoclays are mainly localized in the PBT matrix and at the interface, whereas hydrophobic nanoparticles are confined in the PP-dispersed phase and at the interface. From the rheological point of view, the results show that nanocomposites with hydrophilic nanoclay show stronger pseudoplasticity, higher viscosity, and more elasticity than nanocomposites with the hydrophobic one. The localization of hydrophilic organoclay in the PBT matrix aids to finer morphology of the PBT/PP blend, whereas hydrophobic one resists the breakup of droplets by confinement in dispersed phase.

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