Influence of a terpolymer compatibilizer on the nanostructure of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/montmorillonite nanocomposites

Abstract

The use of a compatibilizer to improve the interactions between poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) and an organically treated montmorillonite (MMT) clay was studied. Nanocomposites, with and without compatibilizer, were obtained using a torque rheometer; their nanostructures were analyzed by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), steady state and dynamic rheological measurements, and Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT‐IR). Only intercalated structures were obtained when no compatibilizer was added, independent of the mixing method (one or two steps); when the compatibilizer was added, however, intercalated and exfoliated structures were obtained, depending on the masterbatch composition. When the PTT was not present in the masterbatch, two‐phase exfoliated structures were obtained, with a disperse phase composed of nanoclay's lamellas and reticulated compatibilizer and a matrix phase composed of PTT. The compatibilizer cured due to the presence of the nanoclay's surfactant; a mechanism of cure was proposed in which the epoxide rings of the compatibilizer reacted with the hydroxyl groups of the nanoclay's surfactant, forming ether cross‐linkages. It was also concluded that in order to obtain one‐phase exfoliated structures the two steps mixing method using a masterbatch composition of 50 wt% of PTT, 25 wt% of compatibilizer, and 25 wt% of nanoclay gave the best results; after further dilution in the PTT, an exfoliated nanocomposite with a final concentration of 5 wt% of compatibilizer and 5 wt% of nanoclay was obtained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Crystallization and melting behavior of nanoclay-containing polypropylene/poly(trimethylene terephthalate) blends

“…On introduction of 2.5 wt% Cloisite 20A and 2.5 wt% Cloisite 30B to PP/PTT blend (Figure 1b), nanoclay content at the interphase rises significantly to the detriment of that inside PTT droplets which reveals the tendency of Cloisite 20A to reside at the interfacial phase because of its hydrophobic nature. Depending on the material, Cloisite 20A locates selectively in the phase with which it has more affinity [30]. The selective localization of nanoclay is also predictable from surface free energy values (pertinent data not shown).…”

Influence of clay surfactants polarity on the crystallization and rheological behavior of nanocomposites of PDLLA

“…For polymer melts, typically α is 2, G' ~ ω 2 and G" > G', while for solid polymers, this slope tends to zero, G' ~ ω 0 ) and G' > G" 36 . The PDLLA30B had a small slope value but G" > G', while the PDLLA20A had G' > G" at low frequencies and a very close to zero indicating that this sample presented a pseudosolid behavior associated to a percolated network 37 . The complex viscosity versus ω curve for the nanocomposites are shown in Figure 11.…”

Panorama da Pesquisa Acadêmica Brasileira em Nanocompósitos Polímero/Argila e Tendências para o Futuro

“…Outro poliéster, o poli (tereftalato de trimetileno) (PTT), foi objeto de estudo para o preparo de nanocompósito com argila MMT organomodificada por reômetro de torque, um método de intercalação por fusão. Neste estudo, notou-se que o acréscimo do compatibilizante E-AE-GMA, um terpolímero randômico de 68% em massa de etileno, 24% de éster acrílico e 8% de metacrilato de glicidila, melhorou as interações entre o PTT e a argila, promovendo a formação de nanocompósitos híbridos intercalados, com apenas um passo de mistura ou esfoliados com dois passos de mistura, enquanto que sua ausência resultou em nanocompósitos intercalados independentemente do número de passos de mistura [93] . O efeito de vários solventes foi estudado no processo de dispersão por solução para a formação de nanocompósitos acetato de celulose (CA) com argila MMT.…”