Reinforcement of the Gas Barrier Properties of Polyethylene and Polyamide Through the Nanocomposite Approach: Key Factors and Limitations

Abstract

Re´sume´-Renforcement des proprie´te´s barrie`re aux gaz de matrices polye´thyle`ne et polyamide par l'approche nanocomposite : facteurs cle´s et limitations -Dans cette e´tude, des nanocomposites sont pre´pare´s par voie fondue pour deux matrices, une matrice polyamide 6 (PA6) et une matrice polye´thyle`ne (PE), leur morphologie ainsi que leurs proprie´te´s barrie`res sont e´tudie´es. Les argiles organophiles sont choisies en fonction de la nature chimique de chacune des matrices polyme`res. Les nanocomposites pre´pare´s a`partir de polyamide 6 pre´sentent une structure exfolie´e et des proprie´te´s barrie`res ame´liore´es alors qu'une morphologie de type microcomposite ne conduisant aà ucune ame´lioration des proprie´te´s barrie`res est obtenue pour le syste`me PE/montmorillonite. Diffe´rents polye´thyle`nes modifie´s sont alors e´value´s en tant qu'agents compatibilisants pour les syste`mes PE. Les effets de la masse molaire, de la polarite´et de la fraction massique d'agent compatibilisant sur la dispersion des charges et sur les proprie´te´s barrie`res sont e´tudie´s. Un taux massique d'agent compatibilisant e´gal a`4 fois celui des charges s'ave`re eˆtre optimal pour l'ensemble des agents compatibilisants. Par ailleurs, la masse molaire des agents compatibilisants joue un roˆle primordial sur l'e´tat de dispersion des charges. Contrairement aux syste`mes PA, les proprie´te´s barrie`res des syste`mes PE ne sont pas directement relie´es a`l'e´tat de dispersion des charges mais de´pendent e´galement des interfaces charges/matrice. Les PE oxyde´s de faible masse molaire sont identifie´s comme des agents compatibilisants particulie`rement inte´ressants pour les proprie´te´s barrie`res et une optimisation pas a`pas des syste`mes est entreprise. Une combinaison de PE oxyde´de faible masse molaire et de PE greffe´anhydride male´ique de haute masse molaire conduisant a`diviser la perme´abilite´aux gaz du nanocomposite d'un facteur 2 par rapport a`la matrice PE s'ave`re particulie`rement inte´ressante.Abstract -Reinforcement of the Gas Barrier Properties of Polyethylene and Polyamide Through the Nanocomposite Approach: Key Factors and Limitations -In this study, polyamide 6 (PA6) and polyethylene (PE) nanocomposites were prepared from melt blending and a detailed characterization of the nanocomposite morphology and gas barrier properties was performed. The choice of the organoclay was adapted to each polymer matrix. Exfoliated morphology and improved gas transport Oil & Gas Science and Technology -Rev. IFP Energies nouvelles, Vol. 70 (2015), No. 2, pp. 237-249 Ó E. Picard et al., published by IFP Energies nouvelles, 2013 DOI: 10.2516 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.properties were obtained by melt mixing the polar PA6 matrix and the organoclay, whereas a microcomposite with poor...

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