Rubber–clay nanocomposite by solution blending

Ethylene vinyl acetate rubber (45% vinyl acetate content, EVA‐45) and organomodified clay (12Me‐MMT) composites were prepared by solution blending of the rubber and the clay. A combination of X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy studies showed that the composites obtained are on the nanometer scale. The measurements of the dynamic mechanical properties for different compositions over a temperature range (?100 to +100°C) showed that the storage moduli of these rubber–clay nanocomposites are higher above the glass to rubber transition temperature compared to the neat rubber. The tensile strength of the nanocomposites is about 1.6 times higher than that of the EVA‐45. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2216–2220, 2003     

Time and shear dependent rheology of maleated polyethylene and its nanocomposites

Dipole-dipole and/or hydrogen-bonding interactions between the pendant functional groups within maleated high-density polyethylene (PE-g-MAn) establish a physical polymer network, whose formation kinetics and shear-sensitivity are revealed by dynamic oscillatory testing. The pronounced time and shear dependent viscoelastic properties of PE-g-MAn were not observed for a corresponding imide derivative, PE-g-imide, presumably due to weakened functional group associations in the latter material.The melt compounding of PE-g-MAn with onium-ion exchanged montmorillonite clay (NR₄⁺-MM) resulted in a partially exfoliated hybrid nanocomposite structure, whose viscoelastic behaviour differed significantly from that of the unfilled polymer. The presence of dispersed clay platelets altered the extent of functional group associations, thereby changing the dynamics of network formation.     

The linear viscoelastic properties of copolypropylene–clay nanocomposites

The linear viscoelastic properties of copolypropylene (cPP)–clay nanocomposites (cPPCNs) prepared by melt intercalating with different amounts of clay were extensively examined by rheological measurements. Meanwhile, the clay effects on the cPP confinements were first estimated by calculating the activation energy of different cPP moving units, including the whole molecular chain, the chain segment, and smaller unit such as chain link. The results showed that the stability of cPPCNs melts wrecked when the clay loading was above 5 wt %. An increase in clay loading of cPPCNs gave rise to a strong low frequency solid‐like response (G′ > G″). Unlike the matrix polymer, cPPCN5 (with 5 wt % clay) exhibited a relaxation plateau as relaxation time prolonged above 100 s, and displayed a maximal linear modulus. The variations of the activation energy of different cPP moving units revealed that the mobility of cPP molecular chains was restricted by clay layers, while these restrictions were not only related to the clay loadings but also largely depended on the clay dispersion status in the matrix. The motions of cPP chain segments were greatly limited at 3–5 wt % loading of clay, but drastically activated with the addition of 7 wt % clay due to the increasing stacks of clay layers within the matrix. However, it was found that the presence of clay had little effect on the mobility of small cPP moving units such as chain links. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1523–1529, 2006     

Preparation and properties of (BATB–ODPA) polyimide–clay nanocomposite materials

A series of polymer–clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials consisting of 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐2‐tert‐butylbenzene–4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (BATB–ODPA) polyimide (PI) and layered montmorillonite (MMT) clay were successfully prepared by an in situ polymerization reaction through thermal imidization up to 300°C. The synthesized PCN materials were subsequently characterized by Fourier‐Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, wide‐angle powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of material composition on thermal stability, mechanical strength, molecular permeability and optical clarity of bulk PI and PCN materials in the form of membranes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), molecular permeability analysis (GPA) and ultraviolet‐visible (UV/VIS) transmission spectra, respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1072–1079, 2004     

Catalytic properties of aluminated sepiolite in ethanol conversion

The aluminated sepiolite, obtained by alkaline treatment with KAlO₂, as well as the silver-exchanged aluminated sepiolite were tested in ethanol conversion. The reactions were performed at 280°C and with 50 Torr of ethanol in He. After the alumination through KA1O₂, ethanol dehydrogenation and ethanol dehydration resulted from the Lewis acidity. The dispersion of silver led to a bifunctional catalytic system and the overall catalytic activity and the selectivity towards the acetaldehyde production increased. As a result of the Prins reaction, a significant yield in butadiene was observed.     

海泡石对废水中有机物和重金属的吸附

简述了海泡石的结构特点，及其改性方法，总结了海泡石对废水中有机物和重金属的吸附效果，分析了改性方法、pH、温度、污染物性质与浓度、海泡石用量和吸附时间等因素对吸附效果的影响．探讨了海泡石的吸附机理与等温式，展望了海泡石在废水处理中的应用前景。     

利用高铝矾土研制低温耐磨氧化铝瓷

着重介绍了以高铝矾土为主要原料的85瓷的合理配方和所采用的生产工艺，并对吸水率、体积密度、耐磨性、显微硬度、抗折强度和断裂韧性等物理性能进行了测试。还探讨了低温烧成机理、提高耐磨性的途径。结合显微结构分析了生产工艺对产品性能的影响。     

Crystalline morphology and isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/clay nanocomposites

A poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/montmorillonite clay nanocomposite was synthesized via in situ polymerization. Microscopic studies revealed that in an isothermal crystallization process, some crystallites in the nanocomposite initially were rod‐shaped and later exhibited three‐dimensional growth. The crystallites in the nanocomposite were irregularly shaped, rather than spherulitic, being interlocked together without clear boundaries, and they were much smaller than those of neat PET. With Avrami analysis, the isothermal crystallization kinetic parameters (the Avrami exponent and constant) were obtained. The rate constants for the nanocomposite demonstrated that clay could greatly increase the crystallization rate of PET. The results for the Avrami exponent were consistent with the observation of the rodlike crystallites in the PET/clay nanocomposite during the initial stage. Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and Fourier transform infrared studies showed that, in comparison with neat PET, the crystal lattice parameters and crystallinity of the nanocomposite did not change significantly, whereas more defects may have been present in the crystalline regions of the nanocomposite because of the presence of the clay. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1381–1388, 2004     

Restricted chain segment mobility in poly(amide) 6/clay nanocomposites evidenced by quasi-isothermal crystallization

Modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry is used to explore the interactions between a poly(amide) 6 matrix and various types of clay reinforcement. During quasi-isothermal crystallization of the polymer/clay nanocomposites, an excess contribution is observed in the recorded heat capacity signal, due to reversible melting and crystallization. It is proposed that the magnitude of this excess contribution can be used to qualify the polymer/clay interfacial interaction, as it is directly linked to the segmental mobility of the polymer chains in the interphase region, where both the crystalline and amorphous polymer fractions are affected. It is shown that the interfacial interaction strongly depends on the type of clay filler used. These interactions play a key role in the development of specific material properties for the different types of nanocomposites. A simple interphase model for the poly(amide) 6/clay nanocomposites is proposed.     

Study on the structure and properties of cyanate ester/bentonite nanocomposites

Cyanate ester (CE)/bentonite (BT) nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending of CE with NH₄⁺‐BT. The nanostructure of CE/BT nanocomposites was studied by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that partially intercalated and partially exfoliated structures coexisted in CE/BT nanocomposites containing 2.5 wt % BT with respect to that of bulk CE. Below 2.5 wt % BT content, a totally exfoliated and disordered structure was formed in the nanocomposites. The exfoliated BT enhanced the toughness of CE/BT nanocomposites. The impact strength showed a maximum of 7.1kJ/m² at 1 wt % BT, compared to 3.8kJ/m² of pure CE. Furthermore, results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) suggest that CE/BT nanocomposites have higher thermal stability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 632–637, 2005