The influences of organoclay on properties of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) are scrutinized by loading different filler amounts to the polymeric matrix. In addition, cure characteristics of the prepared nanocomposites are determined by using rheometeric analysis. Although maximum and minimum torque values illustrate a slight increase with the organoclay incorporation, both scorch time and cure time of nanocomposites present a reduction in the presence of organoclay. The tensile strength and elongation at break of nanocomposites went through a maximum as a function of the organoclay content. As expected, the hardness, moduli at 100% and 300% elongations continuously increased along with increasing organoclay loading. The dispersion of organoclay in CSPE chaning was analyzed by X‐ray diffraction and FESEM, methods. The best clay dispersion was achieved at 6 phr lauding by adding ENR 50. This was also observed in the stiffness of nanocomposites derived from both dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and tensile tests. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:E180–E187, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers

In this paper, silver nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO-Ag) nanohybrids were prepared using an environmentally-friendly approach and incorporated as reinforcement in poly(vinylidene fluoride)-poly(methyl methacrylate) blends via melt mixing process. The effect of rGO-Ag nanohybrids was studied on various properties of the blends using different characterization methods. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results confirmed the successful synthesis of rGO-Ag nanohybrids. The mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the resulting rGO-Ag filled nanocomposites were investigated using tensile, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and impedance spectroscopy methods. The Halpin-Tsai model also adjusted for PVDF/PMMA/rGO-Ag composites and the results confirmed that this model works well for the prediction of the tensile modulus. Investigation of mechanical properties demonstrated that the presence of rGO-Ag nanohybrids increased the yield strength and elastic modulus of the samples with the addition of only 1 wt % to the chosen blend sample. Impedance spectroscopy test results showed that the addition of rGO-Ag nanohybrids to PVDF/PMMA blend can effectively enhance the conductivity of the blends. Finally, TGA results demonstrated that the addition of rGO-Ag nanohybrids affected the thermal behavior of the samples and increased the thermal stability and degradation temperature of the resulting nanocomposites compared to the base PVDF/PMMA blend.

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