Melt compounding of PMMA/clay nanocomposites with styrene‐maleic anhydride copolymers: Effect of copolymer type on thermal,mechanical and dielectric properties

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)‐clay nanocomposites (PCN) were prepared through melt blending. Styrene‐maleic anhydride copolymers (SMA) of different molecular weights and MA contents were used as compatibilizers with organically modified clay. The melt‐blended PCN materials were subsequently investigated by a series of characterization techniques, including wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and thermal mechanical analysis. Compared with unmodified PMMA, with only 5 wt% clay loading, the modified PCN materials exhibit higher glass‐transition temperatures, higher dynamic storage moduli, and lower thermal expansion coefficients. The dielectric properties of PCNs in plate form were measured with dielectric spectroscopy. Significant increase in dielectric permitivities and losses were observed for these PCNs. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers