No abstract

A new approach for the preparation of exfoliated acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) nanocomposites is reported, involving two steps, i.e. the preparation of functionalised montmorillonite masterbatch (FMMT) and its melt blending with ABS. FMMT was prepared by adding acrylamide monomer (AA), organic-MMT (OMMT) and initiator dibenzoylperoxide (BPO) to ABS carrier which was first dissolved in 1,2-dichloroethane. IR, XRD and TEM analysis confirmed that AA was successfully grafted onto ABS and the masterbatch was a kind of intercalated nanocomposite. When FMMT was blended with ABS, the resulting ABS/FMMT composite had an exfoliated morphology judging from the results of XRD and TEM examination DSC and TGA data demonstrated that the thermal properties of ABS/FMMT nanocomposite were better than those of pure ABS and ABS/OMMT nanocomposites prepared by directly melt blending of OMMT with ABS. The increase in interfacial interaction and compatibility between ABS matrix and FMMT resulted in a remarkable improvement in the mechanical properties. The tensile modulus and strength were superior to those of ABS/OMMT, and the decrease in impact strength caused by OMMT was moderated.