Mechanical properties,flame retardancy,and smoke suppression of lanthanum organic montmorillonite/poly(vinyl chloride) nanocomposites

A dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium chloride modified organic montmorillonite (OMMT_‐I.44P)/poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) nanocomposite and anionic‐surfactant‐modified lanthanum organic montmorillonite (La‐OMMT)/PVC nanocomposites (with three different anionic surfactants for the La‐OMMTs) were prepared via melt‐intercalation technology. The effects of the La‐OMMTs and OMMT_‐I.44P on the mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and smoke suppression of PVC were studied. X‐ray diffraction characterization showed that the La‐OMMTs were exfoliated in the PVC matrix. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were enhanced by the incorporation of the La‐OMMTs. Cone calorimetry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses indicated that the incorporation of the La‐OMMTs enhanced the flame retardancy and smoke suppression of the PVC nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy photos further showed that the residual char surfaces of La‐OMMT/PVC were all intact and, thus, provided better barriers to energy and smoke transport. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43951.     

Morphology,mechanical property,and processing thermal stability of PVC/La‐OMMTs nanocomposites prepared via in situ intercalative polymerization

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) nanocomposites were prepared via an in situ intercalative suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride with four organic carboxylic acid salts (montmorillonite [MMT] units) containing thermally stable lanthanum ions. The effects of different lanthanum organic montmorillonites (La‐OMMTs) on the particle features and molecular weight were investigated. The transmission electron microscopy data indicated the formation of partially exfoliated or intercalated PVC/La‐OMMTs nanocomposites. The effect of different functional groups on the mechanical properties and processing thermal stability of PVC/La‐OMMT nanocomposites were investigated. Tensile testing and two‐roll mill processing results showed that La‐OMMTs could enhance the dynamic thermal stability and mechanical properties versus PVC pure resin and PVC/I.30P nanocomposites (composed of PVC and I.30P). This suggested that the double bond and amidogen group in La‐OMMTs could promote the dispersion of La‐OMMTs in the PVC matrix and also improve the adhesion between the La‐OMMTs and PVC matrix. The results have potential value in the industrial development of PVC/La‐OMMTs nanocomposites. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 26:97–108, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Processing thermal stability and degradation kinetics of poly(vinyl chloride)/montmorillonite composites

Thermal stability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based montmorillonite composites with either sodium montmorillonite (MMT) or alkyl ammonium ion modified montmorillonite (OMMT) were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The apparent activation energies associated with the first thermal degradation stage were calculated by the methods of Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Kissinger in nitrogen atmosphere at several different heating rates. The processing thermal stability of PVC and PVC/MMT(OMMT) composites was also discussed. Increase of mixing torque did not result in a larger intercalation extent of PVC on MMT; instead, it unexpectedly induced discoloration of PVC and then deteriorated the processing stability, especially in the presence of OMMT. The apparent activation energies in the first thermal degradation stage exhibited little difference among PVC, PVC/MMT, and PVC/OMMT composites, and the kinetic compensation effect of S_p^* kept a constant value, indicating that the thermal stability and thermal degradation mechanism of PVC were not affected by the presence of either MMT or OMMT, although the processing discoloration of PVC is observed for PVC/OMMT composite. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1521–1526, 2004     

Development of nanocomposites based on organically modified montmorillonite and plasticized PVC with improved barrier properties

Montmorillonite (MMT) was organically modified with tributyl citrate (TBC). Organoclays (OMMTs) were processed with diisononyl phthalate (DINP)‐plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to form polymer nanocomposites. The produced composite materials showed a contradictory change in properties to that expected of a layered silicate nanocomposite, with a decreased E‐modulus and increased gas permeability compared with a material without OMMT. It was experimentally shown that the TBC modifier was extracted from the OMMT and was dispersed in the PVC/DINP matrix, whereupon the OMMT collapsed and formed micrometer‐sized agglomerates. Further investigation revealed that TBC has a significant effect on the gas permeability and the E‐modulus, even at low additions to a DINP‐plasticized PVC. A PVC nanocomposite with the TBC acting as both the OM for MMT and as the primary plasticizer was produced. This material showed a significantly increased E‐modulus as well as a decrease in gas permeability, confirming that it is possible to develop a nanocomposite based on plasticized PVC, if both the organo‐modification of the MMT and the formulation of the matrix are carefully selected. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42876.     

Influence of the clay modification and compatibilizer on the structure and mechanical properties of ethylene–propylene–diene rubber/montmorillonite composites

Ethylene–propylene–diene rubber (EPDM)/montmorillonite (MMT) composites were prepared through a melt process, and three kinds of surfactants with different ammonium cations were used to modify MMT and affect the morphology of the composites. The morphology of the composites depended on the alkyl ammonium salt length, that is, the hydrophobicity of the organic surfactants. Organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT), modified by octadecyltrimethyl ammonium salt and distearyldimethyl ammonium salt, was intercalated and partially exfoliated in the EPDM matrix, whereas OMMT modified by hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride exhibited a morphology in which OMMT existed as a common filler. Ethylene–propylene–diene rubber grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH‐g‐EPDM) was used as a compatibilizer and greatly affected the dispersion of OMMT. When OMMTs were modified by octadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride and distearydimethyl ammonium chloride, the EPDM/OMMT/MAH‐g‐EPDM composites (100/15/5) had an exfoliated structure, and they showed good mechanical properties and high dynamic moduli. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 638–646, 2004     

Thermal aging and accelerated weathering of PVC/MMT nanocomposites: Structural and morphological studies

This work focuses on the influence of weathering factors—UV radiation, humidity, and temperature on the structure and morphology of poly(vinyl chloride)/montmorillonite (PVC/MMT) nanocomposites obtained by melt blending. It has been observed that organically modified MMT (OMMT) deteriorates the weathering resistance, the thermal behavior, as well as the long‐term stability of PVC. Decomposition of the organic modifier of MMT causes substantial color changes in the PVC nanocomposites as it facilitates the dehydrochlorination process of the polymer. However, the nonmodified MMT provides some stabilization during PVC weathering. The nanocomposites after annealing are characterized by higher glass transition temperature. The increase in heat capacity step (Δc_p) during glass transition suggests that in the PVC composites with nonmodified MMT stronger molecular interactions between the polymer and clay platelets occur than in PVC/OMMT nanocomposites. The scanning electron microscopy images on the surface and the cross section show that thermal aging and weathering proceed by different mechanisms. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42090.     

Influence of the type of quaternary ammonium salt used in the organic treatment of montmorillonite on the properties of poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate)/layered silicate nanocomposites prepared by in situ miniemulsion polymerization

Hybrid latices of poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) were synthesized via in situ miniemulsion polymerization in the presence of 3 and 6 wt % organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT). Three different ammonium salts: cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC), alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (Dodigen), and distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (Praepagen), were investigated as organic modifiers. Increased affinity for organic liquids was observed after organic modification of the MMT. Stable hybrid latices were obtained even though miniemulsion stability was disturbed to some extent by the presence of the OMMTs during the synthesis. Highly intercalated and exfoliated polymer‐MMT nanocomposites films were produced with good MMT dispersion throughout the polymeric matrix. Materials containing MMT modified with the 16 carbons alkyl chain salt (CTAC) resulted in the largest increments of storage modulus, indicating that single chain quaternary salts provide higher increments on mechanical properties. Films presenting exfoliated structure resulted in the largest increments in the onset temperature of decomposition. For the range of OMMT loading studied, the nanocomposite structure influenced more significantly the thermal stability properties of the hybrid material than did the OMMT loading. The film containing 3 wt % MMT modified with the two 18 carbons alkyl chains salt (Praepagen) provided the highest increment of onset temperature of decomposition. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(urethane‐benzoxazine)/clay hybrid nanocomposites

Poly(urethane‐benzoxazine)/clay hybrid nanocomposites (PU/Pa–OMMTs) were prepared from an in situ copolymerization of a polyurethane (PU) prepolymer and a monofunctional benzoxazine monomer, 3‐phenyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine (Pa), in the presence of an organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT), by solvent method using DMAc. OMMT was made from cation‐exchange of Na‐montmorillonite (MMT) with dodecyl ammonium chloride. The formation of the exfoliated nanocomposite structures of PU/Pa‐OMMT was confirmed by XRD from the disappearance of the peak due to the basal diffraction of the layer‐structured clay found in both MMT and OMMT. DSC showed that, in the presence of OMMT, the curing temperature of PU/Pa lowered by ca. 60°C for the onset and ca. 20°C for the maximum. After curing at 190°C for 1 h, the exothermic peak on DSC disappeared. All the obtained films of PU/Pa–OMMT were deep yellow and transparent. As the content of OMMT increased, both the tensile modulus and strength of PU/Pa–OMMT films increased, while the elongation decreased. The characteristics of the PU/Pa–OMMT films changed from plastics to elastomers depending on OMMT content and PU/Pa ratio. PU/Pa–OMMT films also exhibited excellent resistance to the solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, N,N‐dimethylformamide and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone. The thermal stability of PU/Pa were enhanced remarkably even with small amount of OMMT. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 4075–4083, 2003     

Effect of intercalation agent on the structure and properties of OMMT and RTV/OMMT composites

Novel room‐temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTV)/organic montmorillonite (OMMT) composites have been prepared. Di(2‐oxyethyl)‐12 alkane‐3 methyl‐amine chloride and hydrogen silicone oil were used as intercalation agents to treat Na⁺‐montmorillonite and form two kinds of OMMTs. The structure and properties of OMMT were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The intercalation mechanism of different types of intercalation agents was proposed. RTV/OMMT composites were prepared using these OMMTs. Properties such as viscosity, hardness, tensile strength, elongation at break, and thermal stability were researched and compared. A combination of swelling test, XRD and transmission electronic microscopy studies was used to characterize the structure and reinforcing mechanism of these OMMTs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Preparation,characterization, and properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/organophilic‐montmorillonite nanocomposites

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/organophilic‐montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites were prepared by direct melt intercalation. PVC/compatibilizer ((vinyl acetate) copolymer (VAc))/OMMT nanocomposites were also prepared by melt intercalation by a masterbatch process. The effect of OMMT content on the nanostructures and properties of nanocomposites was studied. The nanostructures were studied by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The linear viscoelastic properties and dynamic mechanical properties of PVC/OMMT nanocomposites were also investigated by an advanced rheometric expansion system (ARES) rheometer. The results showed that partially exfoliated and partially intercalated structures coexisted in the PVC/OMMT and PVC/VAc/OMMT nanocomposites. The mechanical properties test results indicated that the notched Charpy impact strengths of nanocomposites were improved compared to that of pristine PVC and had a maximum value at 1 phr OMMT loadings. The compatibilizer could further improve the impact strengths. But the existence of OMMT decreased the thermal stability of PVC/OMMT and PVC/VAc/OMMT nanocomposites. The linear viscoelastic properties test results indicated the dependence of G′ and G″ on ω shows nonterminal behaviors, and they had better processibility compared with pristine PVC. However, the glass transition temperatures of PVC/OMMT nanocomposites almost had little change compared to that of pristine PVC. POLYM. COMPOS., 27:55–64, 2006. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of OMMTs on flame retardancy and thermal stability of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate)/LDPE/magnesium hydroxide composites

The aim of this study was to prepare poly (ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) (EVA)/ low density polyethylene (LDPE)/magnesium hydroxide (MH) composites applicable in cable industry with required flame retardancy. For this reason, two types of organo‐modified montmorillonites (OMMT) with different surface polarites (Cloisite 15A and Cloisite 30B) at various concentrations, and also combination of these two OMMTs with overall loadings of 2 wt % and 5 wt % were used. The samples were compounded using a twin screw extruder with total (MH + OMMT) feeding of 55 wt % and 60 wt %. Limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the samples containing 2 wt % of OMMTs increased about 16% and dripping was suppressed according to vertical burning test (UL‐94V). Thermogravimetric results of EVA/LDPE/MH samples containing OMMT showed that the beginning of second step degradation was shifted about 50°C to higher temperatures. The composite tensile strength results showed enhancement by incorporating some amount of nanoclays with EVA/LDPE/MH composites. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed that MH particles had better wetting by EVA matrix in presence of nanoclays. Oxidative induction time of the EVA/LDPE/MH/OMMT nanocomposites was 140 min, which was more than that of the samples without OMMT (20 min). Employing the equal weight ratios of the two OMMTs demonstrated a synergistic effect on flame retardancy of the samples according to the both tests results (LOI, UL‐94V). X‐ray diffraction analysis of the samples confirmed the intercalation/semiexfoliation structure of nanosilicate layers in the bulk of EVA/LDPE matrix. This led to longer elongation at break and thermal stability of Cloisite 15A based nanocomposites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40452.     

Morphology evolutions of organically modified montmorillonite/polyamide 12 nanocomposites

Organically modified montmorillonites (OMMTs) by octadecylammonium chloride with two adsorption levels were dispersed in polyamide 12 (PA12) matrices with two molecular weights for different melt mixing times in order to investigate morphology evolutions and factors influencing fabrication of PA12 nanocomposites. Different adsorption levels of the modifier in the OMMTs provide different environments for diffusion of polymer chains and different attractions between MMT layers. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and gas permeability were used to characterize morphologies of the nanocomposites. Both OMMTs can be exfoliated in the PA12 matrix with higher molecular weight, but only OMMT with lower adsorption level can be exfoliated in the PA12 matrix with lower molecular weight. It was attributed to the differences in the levels of shear stress and molecular diffusion in the nanocomposites. The exfoliation of OMMT platelets results from a combination of molecular diffusion and shear. After intercalation of PA12 into interlayer of OMMT in the initial period of mixing, further dispersion of OMMTs in PA12 matrices is controlled by a slippage process of MMT layers during fabricating PA12 nanocomposites with exfoliated structure.     

PE/OMMT nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization approach: Effects of OMMT‐intercalated catalysts and silicate modifications

In this article, the surfactants, (2‐hydroxylethyl) octadecyl dimethylammonium nitrate (OH‐C18), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide(C16), and mixture of trimethylchlorosilane (TM) and OH‐C18 were ion‐exchanged with cations in the montmorillonite (MMT) to generate three organic MMTs (named as OH‐C18‐MMT, C16‐MMT, and MMMT), leading to different environments of catalyst species in MMT interlayer gallery. Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂ (abbreviated as EI) was supported on the above three types of OMMTs to prepare the PE/OMMT nanocomposites via in situ polymerization. By contrast, EI/MMMT showed higher activity than EI/OH‐C18‐MMT and EI/C16‐MMT under the same polymerization conditions. The other two types of catalysts, such as [(tert‐Bu)NSi(Me₂)C₅Me₄]TiCl₂ (CGCT) and Bis[N‐(3‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)anilinato] titanium (IV) dichloride (FI) were also supported on the OH‐C18‐MMT for in situ ethylene polymerization. It was found that the activity of FI/OH‐C18‐MMT for ethylene polymerization was much lower than the other two corresponding catalysts under the similar reaction conditions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Preparation and characterization of anionically polymerized butadiene‐isoprene copolymer/clay nanocomposites

Butadiene‐isoprene copolymer/montmorillonite (BIR/MMT) nanocomposites were synthesized successfully via in situ anionic polymerization. The results of transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffractometer showed that the clay layers were exfoliated and high reaction temperature benefited the exfoliation of layers in BIR/MMT. The polymerization still exhibited “living” characteristics with the addition of organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT). However, the contents of 1,2‐polybutadiene and 3,4‐polyisoprene of the copolymer decreased with the addition of OMMT, because of its absorption effect on N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethanediamine as revealed by ¹H NMR. Moreover, it was observed that the glass‐transition temperature of the BIR/MMT nanocomposites also decreased when compared with the BIR copolymers. The thermal stability of the nanocomposites was improved, because of the barrier property of exfoliated clay layers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl PolymSci 102: 1167–1172, 2006     

Lanthanum histidine with pentaerythritol and zinc stearate as thermal stabilizers for poly(vinyl chloride)

Lanthanum histidine [La(His)₂·(NO₃)·2H₂O or La(His)₂] was synthesized via the reaction of histidine and lanthanum nitrate, and it was investigated as a stabilizer for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). The results show that La(His)₂ exhibited a stabilizing effect on PVC as a long‐term stabilizer because it prolonged the stability time of PVC to 76 min, which was about 24 times longer than the stability time of the pure PVC. The stabilizing effect of La(His)₂ as a costabilizer with pentaerythritol (Pe) and zinc stearate (ZnSt₂) was also studied. The results show that the use of La(His)₂ with Pe or Pe/ZnSt₂ improved the stability time of PVC. La(His)₂/Pe/ZnSt₂ provided PVC with a good initial color and long‐term stability, and when it was prepared at mass ratios of 0.8:2.4:0.8 and 1.6:1.6:0.8, the stability times of PVC were improved to 86 and 88 min, respectively. As a nontoxic stabilizer, La(His)₂/Pe/ZnSt₂ has the potential to replace the toxic stabilizers widely used in PVC manufacturing. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42878.     

Surface modification of montmorillonite and application to the preparation of polybutadiene/montmorillonite nanocomposites

Hydrophobic organic montmorillonite (OMMT) which exists as stable dispersions in cyclohexane has been prepared by the combined modification of quaternary ammonium salts and coupling agents, and polybutadiene (PB)/OMMT nanocomposites (NCs) were successfully synthesized by in situ living anionic polymerization. The results showed that the interlayer spacing of OMMT increased dramatically on increasing the length of the long alkyl chain of C12, C16, C18 and C22 in n‐alkyltrimethylammonium ions and the number of long alkyl chains of 1C16, 2C16 and 3C16 in hexadecylmethylammonium ions. The interlayer spacings reached 4.9 and 5.07 nm, respectively, when C22 and 3C16 were used. The dispersion of MMT intercalated by quaternary ammonium salts was improved significantly after surface modification by different coupling agents, and the OMMTs could be disperses stably in cyclohexane for at least 72 h. In addition, the coupling agents did not change the inherent intercalation structure of OMMT. The results from a kinetic study and ¹H NMR analysis indicated that the incorporation of OMMT had little influence on the living polymerization and PB microstructure (proportions of 1,2‐ and 1,4‐units) when the OMMT content was below 3 wt%. However, the OMMT modified by different coupling agents had some influence on the molecular weight distribution. The results from transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction revealed that exfoliated structures of clay were obtained for all NCs. Furthermore, the results of differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis indicated that T_g and T_dc of NCs were increased compared to those of PB. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of Cu2+‐organic montmorillonites on thermal decomposition and smoke emission of poly(vinyl chloride) by cone calorimetric study

Cu²⁺‐Organic montmorillonites were prepared by modifying Na⁺ montmorillonite (Na⁺‐MMT) with silane coupling agents and cupric sulfate. PVC/organic montmorillonite composites were prepared by the melt intercalation method. Morphological structure of modified MMT and PVC/MMT was obtained by using XRD and SEM. The XRD results showed that silanes and Cu²⁺ were intercalated among interlayers and that modified MMT may have exfoliated dispersion in PVC. Effects of Cu²⁺‐organic montmorillonites on decomposition and smoke emission of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in the flaming mode were investigated by using a cone calorimeter at an incident heat flux of 25 kW·m^?2. Cone experimental data demonstrated that the Cu²⁺‐organic montmorillonites prepared were new effective smoke suppressants. They clearly promoted an early HCl elimination, crosslinking reactions, and char residue formation, based upon the decomposition parameters of mass loss, mass loss rate, and time of initial decomposition (t_initial). Cu²⁺‐Organic montmorillonites decreased peak heat release rate, total heat release, peak smoke production rate, total smoke production, and smoke extinction area during the flaming process. The smoke‐reducing efficiency of Cu²⁺‐organic montmorillonites (Cu²⁺‐OMMTs) was the best. However, the content of cupric ion was only 0.6–0.8% in Cu²⁺‐OMMTs and 0.03–0.04% in PVC composites. They may make the smoke‐reducing efficiency reach 45–50%. This result further demonstrates that Cu²⁺ ion is a very effective smoke suppressant for PVC. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 13:31–39, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Chemical effects of cationic surfactant and anionic surfactant used in organically modified montmorillonites on degradation and fire retardancy of polyamide 12 nanocomposites

Three kinds of organically modified Na⁺-montmorillonites (OMMTs), including two kinds of octadecylammonium modified montmorillonite with different contents of octadecylammonium and a kind of sodium dodecylsulfonate (SDSo) modified montmorillonite, were used to prepare polyamide 12 (PA12)/OMMT nanocomposites. Effects of the modifiers on degradation and fire retardancy of PA12/OMMT nanocomposites were investigated. Acid sites formed in cationic surfactant modified MMT via Hoffman decomposition could accelerate degradation of PA12 at high temperature. However, catalytic effect of the acid sites on carbonization of the degradation products promoted char barrier formation, which reduced heat release rate (HRR). Higher content of cationic surfactant in OMMT is beneficial to fire retardancy of PA12 nanocomposites and the dispersion states of OMMT have assistant effects. In contrast, Na⁺-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) and anionic surfactant modified MMT (a-MMT) could not form acid sites on the MMT layers; in this case, fire retardancy of PA12/Na-MMT appears to have no improvement and PA12/a-MMT appears to have limited improvement.     

Thermal stability of organo‐montmorillonite‐modified wood flour/poly(lactic acid) composites

In this research, wood flour (WF) was modified using sodium–montmorillonite (Na‐MMT) at four different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 wt%, respectively) and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) in a two‐step process to form organo‐montmorillonite (OMMT) inside the WF or attached to the WF surface. The thus‐modified WF was then mixed with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to produce WF/PLA composites. The thermal stability of these composites with respect to their resistance against both thermal deformation and thermal decomposition was characterized by stress relaxation, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Besides, the activation energies for thermal decomposition of the composites were calculated. The results showed the following: (1) The modification of WF by OMMT improved the resistance against thermal deformation of the composites at appropriate OMMT loadings (lower than 1 wt% in this study). However, after introducing excessive OMMT, the enhancements in thermal stability diminished. Composite containing WF modified by 0.5 wt% of OMMT showed the optimal thermal deformation stability in this study, reflected in the highest values of thermal properties such as the glass transition temperature, melting temperature, crystallization temperature, and slowest stress relaxation rate. (2) OMMT showed a negative effect on the resistance against thermal decomposition. Namely, OMMT accelerated the thermal decomposition of the composites, probably by the easier degradation of the organic surfactant used for the WF modification. However, this behavior might be favorable for achieving fire retardancy. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1971–1977, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation of intercalated Mg‐Al layered double hydroxides and its application in PVC thermal stability

The Mg‐Al oxide precursor prepared by the calcination of Mg‐Al‐carbonated layered double hydroxide (LDH) at 500 K for 4 h is used as the host material, 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzophenone‐5‐sulfonic acid (BP) is used as the guest material, BP‐intercalated LDH (LDH‐BP) is prepared by ion‐exchange method. The structure of LDH‐BP is characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG‐DTA). The thermal stability of PVC/BP, PVC/LDH, PVC/LDH‐BP composites, as well as pure PVC is investigated by conventional Congo Red test and dynamic thermal stability analysis in both the open and closed processing environments. According to XRD and FTIR, BP anions have been intercalated into interlayer galleries of LDH. TG‐DTA results show that the layer‐anionic interaction results in the improvement of the thermal stability of BP. Congo Red tests indicate that the addition of BP catalyzes the thermal degradation of PVC. A little amount of LDH (such as 1 phr) makes PVC more stable, but excessive addition accelerates the thermal degradation of PVC. The addition of LDH‐BP markedly improves the static thermal stability of PVC. The results of dynamic thermal stability tests in both the open and closed processing environments are consistent with that of Congo Red tests. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011