Effect of compound organification of montmorillonite on the structure and properties of polypropylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites

In this paper, reactive organic montmorillonite (RMMT), prepared with compound alkylammoniums, were used in ternary-monomer solid phase graft copolymerization in order to enhance the melting intercalation of montmorillonite (MMT), stabilize the intercalated structure, and prepare the exfoliated polypropylene/montmorillonite (PP/MMT) nanocomposites (PPMN). The structure and properties of PPMN were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), etc. Results show that the compound organification, solid phase graft copolymerization really favored the melting intercalation. The compound organification and exothermic process of the solid phase copolymerization promoted the melting intercalation. The mechanical properties, melt flow rate and Vicat softening point of PPMN significantly had a preferable reinforced state at 6–8 phr PP/MMT graft copolymers (PPGM). The increase of the mechanical properties and thermal properties was owed to the reinforcement of the exfoliated MMT and the compatibilization of the oligomers built by the polar monomers during the solid phase graft copolymerization. The improvement of the fluidity of PPMN derived from the plasticization of the exfoliated MMT and oligomers. Translated from Chinese Journal of Materials Research, 2006, 20(2): 197–202 [译自: 材料研究学报]