Mechanical,morphological, and thermal properties of nanotalc reinforced PA6/SEBS‐g‐MA composites

Ternary butylene‐styrene‐g‐maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) (100/20 w/w) blend with varying content of nanotalc (1, 3, and 5 wt %) were prepared by melt compounding followed by injection molding. Thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the results show that the thermal properties of nanocomposites are slightly improved by the addition of nanotalc content. The morphology of nanocomposites using wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the delamination of talc layers in the ternary nanocomposites. The dynamic mechanical properties of the samples were analyzed by using dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA). The results show that the storage modulus of the blend monotonically increased while tan δ curve show the diffuse pattern with the nanotalc content. The mechanical properties of PA6/SEBS‐g‐MA nanocomposites were studied by tensile, flexural, and impact tests. The tensile and flexural properties continuously increased while izod impact and elongation‐at‐break decreased with nanotalc content. Various theoretical predictive models were used to correlate tensile modulus with the experimental data. The experimental data shows the positive deviation with the applied models. Bela Pukanszky model has been used to calculate the value of parameter B by employing tensile strength data. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41381.     

Effects of carbon nanofibers on the fracture,mechanical, and thermal properties of PP/SEBS‐g‐MA blends

Polypropylene/maleated (styrene‐ethylene‐butadiene‐styrene) (PP/SEBS‐g‐MA) blends reinforced with 0.2–2.5 wt% carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by injection molding. The structure, thermal, mechanical, and fracture behaviors of PP/SEBS‐g‐MA blends and their nanocomposites were studied. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) results showed that the SEBS‐g‐MA and/or CNF additions do not induce a structural change of PP. Tensile measurements showed that the Young's modulus and tensile yield strength increase with the increasing filler content. Izod impact and essential work of fracture test results demonstrated that CNFs are beneficial to improve the impact strength and specific essential work of fracture of PP/SEBS‐g‐MA blends. Therefore, tough PP‐nanocomposites can be achieved by melt‐blending low fractions of CNFs and appropriate elastomer contents. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

PET interleaving veils for improved fracture toughness of glass fibre/low‐styrene‐emission unsaturated polyester resin composites

The use of interleaved polyethylene terephthalate (PET) veils to increase the interlaminar fracture toughness of glass fiber‐reinforced, low‐styrene emission, unsaturated polyester resin composites, was investigated. PET, being chemically similar to the unsaturated polyester resin, was expected to exhibit good wetting and strong interaction with the matrix. Composite laminates were manufactured by hand lay‐up, with the veil content varying up to 7%. The effects of PET veils on the interlaminar shear strength, flexural strength, flexural modulus, glass transition temperature, damping parameters, and Mode‐I interlaminar fracture toughness of the composite were studied. The veils were found to enhance most of these properties, with only minor negative effects on flexural stiffness and T_g. The PET/resin bonding did indeed prove to be strong, but the enhancement of fracture toughness was not as much as expected, because of the weaker glass/resin interface providing an alternative crack propagation path. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42877.     

Influence of fly ash cenospheres on performance of coir fiber‐reinforced recycled high‐density polyethylene biocomposites

Recycled high‐density polyethylene (RHDPE)/coir fiber (CF)‐reinforced biocomposites were fabricated using melt blending technique in a twin‐screw extruder and the test specimens were prepared in an automatic injection molding machine. Variation in mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, water absorption, and thermal stability with the addition of fly ash cenospheres (FACS) in RHDPE/CF composites were investigated. It was observed that the tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness properties of RHDPE increase with an increase in fiber loading from 10 to 30 wt %. Composites prepared using 30 wt % CF and 1 wt % MA‐g‐HDPE exhibited optimum mechanical performance with an increase in tensile modulus to 217%, flexural strength to 30%, flexural modulus to 97%, and hardness to 27% when compared with the RHDPE matrix. Addition of FACS results in a significant increase in the flexural modulus and hardness of the RHDPE/CF composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis tests of the RHDPE/CF/FACS biocomposites in presence of MA‐g‐HDPE revealed an increase in storage (E′) and loss (E″) modulus with reduction in damping factor (tan δ), confirming a strong influence between the fiber/FACS and MA‐g‐HDPE in the RHDPE matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis thermograms also showed improved thermal properties in the composites when compared with RHDPE matrix. The main motivation of this study was to prepare a value added and low‐cost composite material with optimum properties from consumer and industrial wastes as matrix and filler. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42237.     

Preparation of HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH and its effect on mechanical properties of HDPE/wood flour composites

In this article, high density polyethylene/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer blends (HDPE/SEBS) grafted by maleic anhydride (HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH), which is an effective compatibilizer for HDPE/wood flour composites was prepared by means of torque rheometer with different contents of maleic anhydride (MAH). The experimental results indicated that MAH indeed grafted on HDPE/SEBS by FTIR analysis and the torque increased with increasing the content of maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Styrene may increase the graft reaction rate of MAH and HDPE/SEBS. When HDPE/SEBS MAH was added to HDPE/wood flour composites, tensile strength and flexural strength of composites can reach 25.9 and 34.8 MPa in comparison of 16.5 and 23.8 MPa (without HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH), increasing by 157 and 146%, respectively. Due to incorporation of thermoplastic elastomer in HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH, the Notched Izod impact strength reached 5.08 kJ m^?2, increasing by 145% in comparison of system without compatibilizer. That HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH improved the compatibility was also conformed by dynamic mechanical measurement. Scanning electron micrographs provided evidence for strong adhesion between wood flour and HDPE matrix with addition of HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

PVC/MBS/埃洛石纳米管复合材料的制备及其性能

采用熔融共混法制备了聚氯乙烯(PVC)/甲基丙烯酸甲酯-丁二烯-苯乙烯共聚物(MBS)/埃洛石纳米管(HNTs)三元复合材料,研究了HNTs对PVC/MBS共混体系力学性能、热性能和微观结构的影响。结果表明:HNTs与MBS可协同增韧PVC,使复合材料的强度和刚性得到改善,当HNTs的填充量为3 phr时,PVC/MBS(100/3)共混体系的冲击强度、拉伸强度、弯曲强度和弯曲模量分别提高了57.7%、12.1%、7.6%和45.9%;其冲击断面呈现韧性断裂特征;TEM观察结果发现,HNTs在PVC/MBS共混体系中具有良好的分散状态;热失重分析显示,HNTs对PVC/MBS共混体系热稳定性的提高能起到一定作用。     

Simultaneous improvement in strength,toughness, and thermal stability of epoxy/halloysite nanotubes composites by interfacial modification

This work investigated the effect of silane modification of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) on the mechanical properties of epoxy/HNTs nanocomposites. Three kinds of silane coupling agents, including 3‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPS), (3‐glycidyloxypropyl)‐trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), and octyltriethoxysilane (OTES), were employed. It was shown that the modified HNTs exhibited a better dispersion in the epoxy matrix compared with pristine one. Because of strong interfacial interaction between AEAPS modified HNTs and the epoxy matrix, the nanocomposites exhibited the highest glass transition temperature and modulus among all the samples. On the other hand, AEAPS and GPTMS modified HNTs/epoxy nanocomposites showed enhanced tensile strength and toughness. The toughing mechanisms were identified by the SEM micrographs of the fracture surfaces of the different kinds of samples. In this study, simultaneous enhancement of strength, toughness, and thermal stability of epoxy by the modified HNTs provides a novel approach to produce high‐performance thermosets. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43249.     

Compatibilization of polypropylene/Poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) blends by polypropylene‐graft‐cardanol

The polypropylene‐graft‐cardanol (PP‐g‐cardanol) was prepared by reactive extrusion with polypropylene (PP) and natural renewable cardanol which could increase the interfacial energy of PP and inhibit the degradation of PP during the process of reactive extrusion and usage. In this article, PP‐g‐cardanol and polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PP‐g‐MAH) were used as compatibilizers of the polypropylene (PP)/poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) (ABS) blends. PP/ABS (70/30, wt %) blends with PP‐g‐cardanol and PP‐g‐MAH were prepared by a corotating twin‐screw extruder. From the results of morphological studies, the droplet size of ABS was minimized to 1.93 and 2.01 μm when the content of PP‐g‐cardanol and PP‐g‐MAH up to 5 and 7 phr, respectively. The results of mechanical testing showed that the tensile strength, impact strength and flexural strength of PP/ABS (70/30) blends increase with the increasing of PP‐g‐cardanol content up to 5 phr. The complex viscosity of PP/ABS (70/30) blends with 5 phr PP‐g‐cardanol showed the highest value. Moreover, the change of impact strength and tensile strength of PP/ABS (70/30) blends were investigated by accelerated degradation testing. After 4 accelerated degradation cycles, the impact strength of the PP/ABS (70/30) blends with 5 phr PP‐g‐cardanol decrease less than 6%, but PP/ABS (70/30) blends with 5 phr PP‐g‐MAH and without compatibilizer decrease as much as 12% and 32%, respectively. The tensile strength of PP/ABS (70/30) blends has a similar tendency to that of impact strength. The above results indicated that PP‐g‐cardanol could be used as an impact modifier and a good compatibilizer, which also exhibited better stability performance during accelerated degradation testing. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41315.     

An investigation on recycled PET/PP and recycled PET/PP‐EP compatibilized blends: Rheological,morphological, and mechanical properties

The effectiveness of P(E‐co‐MA‐co‐GMA) as a compatibilizer for recycled PET/PP and recycled PET/PP‐EP (polypropylene (ethylene‐propylene) heterophase copolymer) blends was investigated by means of morphological (scanning electron microscopy), rheological (small amplitude oscillatory shear), mechanical (tensile, flexural and impact tests), and thermal (differential scanning calorimetry) properties. Compatibilizer concentration ranged from 1 to 5 wt % with respect to the whole blend. All blends were obtained in a 90/10 composition using a twin screw extruder. Compatibilization effects for PETr/PP‐EP were more pronounced due to ethylene segments present in both PP‐EP and P(E‐co‐EA‐co‐GMA). PETr/PP‐EP has shown greater dispersed phase size reduction, a more solid‐like complex viscosity behavior and larger storage modulus at low frequencies in relation to PETr/PP blend. For both investigated blends, mechanical properties indicated an improvement in both elongation at break and impact strength with increasing compatibilizer content. PETr/PP‐EP blends showed improved performance for the same level of compatibilizer content. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41892.     

Blends of recycled polycarbonate and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene: comparing the effect of reactive compatibilizers on mechanical and morphological properties

Blends of recycled polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) were prepared and some mechanical and morphological properties were investigated. To compatibilize these blends, ABS‐g‐(maleic anhydride) (ABS‐g‐MA) and (ethylene–vinyl acetate)‐g‐(maleic anhydride) (EVA‐g‐MA) with similar degree of grafting of 1.5% were used. To compare the effect of the type of compatibilizer on mechanical properties, blends were prepared using 3, 5 and 10 phr of each compatibilizer. A co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder was used for blending. The results showed that ABS‐g‐MA had no significant effect on the tensile strength of the blends while EVA‐g‐MA decreased the tensile strength, the maximum decrease being about 9.6% when using 10 phr of this compatibilizer. The results of notched Charpy impact strength tests showed that EVA‐g‐MA increased the impact strength of blends more than ABS‐g‐MA. The maximum value of this increase occurred when using 5 phr of each compatibilizer, it being about 54% for ABS‐g‐MA and 165% for EVA‐g‐MA. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the particle size of the dispersed phase was decreased in the continuous phase of PC by using the compatibilizers. Moreover, a blend without compatibilizer showed brittle behaviour while the blends containing compatibilizer showed ductile behaviour in fracture. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and properties of PC/SAN alloy modified with styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer

A polycarbonate (PC)/ poly (styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (SAN) alloy modified with styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene (SEBS) block copolymer was prepared and the influence of SEBS content, PC content, and types of modifier on Izod notched impact strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and Vicat softening temperature was studied. The results showed that the addition of SEBS could obviously increase the Izod notched impact strength and the elongation at break and decrease the tensile and flexural strength and Vicat softening temperature. PC/SAN alloy modified with SEBS had better mechanical properties than the PC/SAN alloy modified with ABS. DSC analysis and SEM photographs revealed that the SEBS was not only distributed in the SAN phase but also distributed in PC phase in a PC/SAN/SEBS alloy while the ABS was mainly distributed in SAN phase in a PC/SAN/ABS alloy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Effects of compatibilizers and testing speeds on the mechanical properties of organophilic montmorillonite filled polyamide 6/polypropylene nanocomposites

In the present study, the fracture properties of different types of organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) filled polyamide 6/polypropylene nanocomposites was investigated. Two types of compatibilizers, i.e., maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA) and maleic anhydride grafted styrene‐ethylene/butylene‐styrene (SEBS‐g‐MA) were used to compatibilize these systems. The tensile properties were studied through tensile test at two different testing speeds; 50 and 500 mm/min whereas the fracture properties were determined using single‐edge‐notch‐3 point‐bending (SEN‐3PB) specimens at three different testing speeds; 1, 100, and 500 mm/min. The presence of both PP‐g‐MA and SEBS‐g‐MA compatibilizers improved the tensile and fracture properties of nanocomposites due to the compatibilizing effect of both compatibilizers. SEBS‐g‐MA compatibilizer seemed to be more effective in improving the fracture toughness of nanocomposites than PP‐g‐MA especially at high testing speed. This was due to the elastomeric nature of SEBS‐g‐MA, which can provide a better toughening effect than the relatively harder PP‐g‐MA. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:1493–1504, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of poly [styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] (SEBS) and maleic anhydride‐grafted SEBS triblock copolymers in immiscible blends of (polyamide‐6)/polycarbonate: Morphology‐mechanical properties relationships

The effects of using maleated poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] triblock copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MAH) and unmodified SEBS (unSEBS) on the phase morphology and mechanical properties of immiscible polymer blends of polyamide‐6 (PA‐6) and polycarbonate (PC) are investigated. Different binary, ternary, and quaternary blends were prepared by using a Brabender® co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. The weight ratio of unSEBS to SEBS‐g‐MAH was changed to probe the phase morphology and mechanical properties. The results revealed that the mechanical properties of (PA‐6)/PC/(unSEBS/SEBS‐g‐MAH) blends were considerably governed by the unSEBS to SEBS‐g‐MAH weight ratio. Morphological investigation based on the spreading coefficient concept confirmed the results of scanning electron microscopy, indicating encapsulation of unSEBS domains around the PC core‐forming component in the presence of reactive SEBS‐g‐MAH precursor. Moreover, larger unSEBS‐PC composite droplets appeared throughout PA‐6 matrix upon increasing the ratio of unSEBS to SEBS‐g‐MAH, until reaching a maximum value. In the case of the (PA‐6)/PC blend compatibilized with a 50/50 combination of unSEBS and SEBS‐g‐MAH, the highest mechanical properties, i.e., tensile strength, impact resistance, and strain at break, were achieved owing to compatibilizing effect of virgin and maleated SEBS constituents. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:245–252, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Influences of compatibilizers on rheology and mechanical properties of propylene random copolymer/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer/organic‐montmorillonite nanocomposites

Propylene random copolymer (PPR)/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer (SEBS)/compatibilizer/organic‐montmorillonite (OMMT) quaternary nanocomposites and PPR/compatibilizer/OMMT ternary nanocomposites were prepared via two‐stage melt blending and influences of compatibilizers, maleic anhydride (MA) grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MA), poly(octene‐co‐ethylene) (POE‐g‐MA), or propylene block copolymers (PPB‐g‐MA), on rheology and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. The results of X‐ray diffraction measurement and transmission electron microscopy observation showed that OMMT layers were mainly intercalated in the nanocomposites except for the mainly exfoliated structure in the quaternary nanocomposites using POE‐g‐MA as compatibilizer. The nanocomposites exhibited pseudo‐solid like viscoelasticity in low frequencies and shear‐thinning in high shear rates. As far as OMMT dispersion was concerned, POE‐g‐MA was superior to SEBS‐g‐MA and PPB‐g‐MA, which gives rise to the highest viscosities in both the ternary and quaternary nanocomposites. The quaternary nanocomposites containing POE‐g‐MA were endowed with balanced toughness and rigidity. It was suggested that a suitable combination of compatibilizer and SEBS was an essentially important factor for adjusting the OMMT dispersion and distribution, the rheological and mechanical performances of the nanocomposites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Structure and properties of nylon 1010/ethylene‐vinyl acetate rubber–based dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers filled with SiO2

Dynamically vulcanized Nylon 1010/ethylene‐vinyl acetate rubber (EVM)/SiO₂ nanocomposites were prepared. Maleic anhydride grafted ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA‐g‐MA) and nano‐silica (SiO₂) was used as a compatibilizer and a filler, and silane coupling agent (KH550, 3‐triethoxysilylpropylamine) was used to improve the dispersion of SiO₂ in the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and rheology analysis and mechanical properties test. SEM and AFM images showed that the compatibility between Nylon 1010 and EVM was improved by adding the compatibilizer. An increase in SiO₂ content and the addition of the compatibilizer led to an increase in the tensile strength of the nanocomposite. A nanocomposite based on Nylon 1010/EVM/DCP (30/70/0.8) with tensile strength of 16.3 MPa and elongation at break of 180% was obtained by the addition of 15 phr EVA‐g‐MA and 40 phr SiO₂. The non‐isothermal crystallization processes of Nylon/EVM blend were investigated by DSC. It was observed that EVM rubber could act as heterogeneous nuclei for Nylon which was more effective in Nylon/EVM/DCP blend than in Nylon/EVM blend. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:581–588, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Mechanical,thermal and dynamic‐mechanical behavior of banana fiber reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites

Natural fiber‐reinforced nanocomposites based on polypropylene/nanoclay/banana fibers were fabricated by melt mixing in a twin‐screw extruder followed by compression molding in this current study. Maleic anhydride polypropylene copolymer (MA‐g‐PP) was used as a compatibilizer to increase the compatibility between the PP matrix, clay, and banana fiber to enhance exfoliation of organoclay and dispersion of fibers into the polymer matrix. Variation in mechanical, thermal, and physico‐mechanical properties with the addition of banana fiber into the PP nanocomposites was investigated. It was observed that 3 wt% of nanoclay and 5 wt% of MA‐g‐PP within PP matrix resulted in an increase in tensile and flexural strength by 41.3% and 45.6% as compared with virgin PP. Further, incorporation of 30 wt% banana fiber in PP nanocomposites system increases the tensile and flexural strength to the tune of 27.1% and 15.8%, respectively. The morphology of fiber reinforced PP nanocomposites has been examined by using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Significant enhancement in the thermal stability of nanocomposites was also observed due to the presence of nanoclay under thermogravimetric analysis. Dynamic mechanical analysis tests revealed an increase in storage modulus (E′) and damping factor (tan δ), conforming the strong interaction between nanoclay/banana fiberand MA‐g‐PP in the fiber‐reinforced nanocomposites systems. POLYM. COMPOS., © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Synthesis and application of MDPE‐g‐GMA as reactive compatibilizer in blends of MDPE/PET and MDPE/PA6

In the present study, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted medium density polyethylene (MDPE‐g‐GMA) was synthesized in the molten state and applied as a reactive compatibilizer in MDPE/polyamid6 (PA6) and in MDPE/poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET) blends. Graft copolymerization of GMA onto MDPE was performed in presence and absence of styrene, with different concentrations of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a radical initiator. In the presence of styrene, the MDPE‐g‐GMA with 6% GMA was obtained by addition of only 0.1 phr of DCP. Furthermore, the maximum grafting was reached when 0.6 and 0.7 phr concentration of DCP for styrene containing and styrene free samples were used, respectively. Torque‐time measurement showed faster grafting reaction rate in the presence of styrene. Four MDPE‐g‐GMA samples were selected as compatibilizers in the blends. Furthermore, the effects of melt flow index and grafting content of compatibilizers on mechanical properties and morphology of the blends were investigated through tensile tests and SEM analysis. Tensile test results indicated that the presence of compatibilizers in the blends led to 250 and 133% increase in elongation at break for PA6 and PET blends, respectively. Moreover, the best tensile results for blends were obtained using MDPE‐g‐GMA with high flow ability. The average particle size of the dispersed phase decreased by 350% for PA6 and 300% for PET blends compared with nonreactive blends. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Compatibilizing effect of halloysite nanotubes in polar–nonpolar hybrid system

This article explores the effect of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and modified HNTs (M‐HNTs) on the properties of immiscible blend system based on polar polyoxymethylene (POM) and nonpolar polypropylene (PP) polymers. HNTs have been modified by N‐(β‐aminoethyl)‐γ‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS). Modification is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), also FTIR confirms the interaction between polymer blend and HNTs/M‐HNTs. Morphology of the nanocomposites are demonstrated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dispersion of HNTs/M‐HNTs are observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). In nanocomposites, average dispersed domain sizes reduce in the presence of HNTs/M‐HNTs but significant reduction has been observed in the case of M‐HNT‐filled nanocomposites rather than unmodified HNT‐filled nanocomposites. The M‐HNT acts as a reinforcing agent as well as bridging tool in polar–nonpolar hybrid system. Modification of HNTs brings compatibility in between the blend partners and reveals improved dynamic mechanical, thermal, and tensile properties than that of the pure blend system. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39587.     

Acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene nanocomposites filled with nanosized alumina

A polymer nanocomposite was produced by acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) and α‐alumina was prepared through sol‐gel process using aluminum nitrate and citric acid. The particle size was analyzed by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. The nanocomposites were characterized through tensile strength, Young's modulus, strain% at break, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength. The ABS/Al₂O₃ nanocomposites are found to have slightly higher Young's modulus, but lower tensile strength, strain% at break, flexural and impact strength than the virgin ABS. But its flexural modulus increases with increasing Al₂O₃ content in ABS matrix. The d‐spacing was calculated in nanocomposites to evaluate the interaction between Al₂O₃ and ABS. The particle distributions in nanocomposites were studied by SEM. The fractured surfaces of tensile test samples were also examined through SEM and show that the ductile fracture of ABS is converted to brittle fracture with addition of Al₂O₃. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Mechanical,thermal, and morphological properties of injection molded poly(lactic acid)/SEBS‐g‐MAH/organo‐montmorillonite nanocomposites

Poly(lactic acid)/organo‐montmorillonite (PLA/OMMT) nanocomposites toughened with maleated styrene‐ethylene/butylene‐styrene (SEBS‐g‐MAH) were prepared by melt‐compounding using co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder followed by injection molding. The dispersibility and intercalation/exfoliation of OMMT in PLA was characterized using X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanical properties of the PLA nanocomposites was investigated by tensile and Izod impact tests. Thermogravimetric analyzer and differential scanning calorimeter were used to study the thermal behaviors of the nanocomposite. The homogenous dispersion of the OMMT silicate layers and SEBS‐g‐MAH encapsulated OMMT layered silicate can be observed from TEM. Impact strength and elongation at break of the PLA nanocomposites was enhanced significantly by the addition of SEBS‐g‐MAH. Thermal stability of the PLA/OMMT nanocomposites was improved in the presence of SEBS‐g‐MAH. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012