Morphological, thermal and mechanical properties of nanostructured materials based on polypropylene/poly (trimethylene terephthalate) blended fibers and organoclay

The crystallization morphologies, thermal behaviors and mechanical properties of PP/PTT/nanoclay blends nanocomposite fibers were investigated. Polypropylene/poly (trimethylene terephthalate) blends containing montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared using a twin screw extruder followed by fiber spinning process. The melt intercalation of PP and PPT alloys was carried out in the presence of a compatibilizer such as maleic anhydride-g-polyropylene (MAPP). The results show the improved adhesion between the phases and fine morphology of the dispersed phase. It has contributed to significant improvement in the properties and thermal stabilities of the final nanocomposite materials. A general understanding of how the morphology is likely to be related to the final properties of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT)-incorporated PP/PTT blends is also described.