Different loadings of organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) were mixed with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/polypropylene (70/30) composites under elongation flow. Results showed that ideal dispersion of OMMT nanoparticles could be achieved and most OMMTs intercalated and exfoliated effectively. However, the layer spacing of OMMT decreased with the increase in the content of OMMT. UHMWPE was surrounded by the OMMT layers, and its shape evolved from a compatible phase to a sphere. OMMT caused heterogeneous nucleation in the blends, leading to a high crystallisation temperature. Meanwhile, the intercalated and exfoliated OMMTs promoted the motion of polymer chains, and inhibited the crystallisation process of UHMWPE in the composites. The crystallinity of UHMWPE with 5% OMMT markedly decreased from 48.39% to 41.46%. Various rheological analyses confirmed that the complex viscosity of composites and the storage modulus decreased first and then increased with the increase in the content of OMMT. UHMWPE/PP with 5% OMMT exhibited the ideal mobility.

Three kinds of nanoscaled fillers, namely, zero-dimensional nanosphere titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), one-dimensional multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and twodimensional nanoplate montmorillonite (MMT), were added to the representative polypropylene (PP)/polystyrene (PS) blends by eccentric rotor extruder based on elongation flow. Confirmed from images of transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, three kinds of nanofillers were uniformly dispersed in the blends under continuous elongation flow and the presence of nanofillers led to a marked decrease of dispersed phase size of PS. The dispersed PS particles were turned into spherical status in matrix with the addition of TiO 2 and MWCNTs and showed irregular shapes in the composites with MMT. The PS particle size of PP/ PS/MMT was decreased most obviously, dropping from 4.44 to 1.42 μm, which resulted in obvious improvements in storage modulus and complex viscosity of the composites. The results of wide-angle X-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that MMT nanoparticles were highly intercalated in PP/PS blends, which obviously improved compatibility of PP and PS. Our work certified that the two-dimensional nanoplate MMT are better compatibilizers compared with the zero-dimensional nanosphere TiO 2 and one-dimensional MWCNTs for PP/PS composites.

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AbstractIn this study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix bio-composites reinforced with various quantities of sisal fibers (SFs) (from 10% to 50% in weight) were fabricated by using a self-made vane mixer, which can generate continuous elongation flow. The morphology, crystallization, and mechanical properties of PLA/SF bio-composites under continuous elongation flow were investigated. Scanning electron microscopic images showed that SFs were uniformly dispersed in the matrix and oriented along the extrusion direction. Meanwhile, it was found that the diameter of SFs decreased from 250 to 20 μm, which certified that continuous elongation flow remarkably affected the separation of elementary fibers from fiber bundles. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry measurements indicated that the addition of SFs promoted the crystallization of PLA as well as increased the crystallinity of PLA. The mechanical tests exhibited that both impact strength and tensile modulus were significantly enhanced (about 64% and 94.63%, respectively) with SFs loading at 40%, which was due to the well dispersion and separation of elementary fibers.