Comparative Characterization of PP Nano- and Microcomposites by In-Mold Shrinkage Measurements and Structural Characteristics
✍ Scribed by Rodolfo Revilla-Díaz; Saúl Sánchez-Valdés; Fernando López-Campos; Francisco Javier Medellín-Rodríguez; Maria Luisa López-Quintanilla
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2007
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 188 KB
- Volume
- 292
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1438-7492
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Poly(propylene)‐clay nanocomposites and poly(propylene) containing conventional inorganic fillers such as calcium carbonate (CaCO~3~) and glass fiber were used in a comparative study focusing on dimensional stability, structure, mechanical and thermal properties. Micro‐ and nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending in a twin‐screw extruder. The relative influence of each filler was observed from dimensional stability measurements and structural analysis by WAXD, TEM, and thermal and mechanical properties. At equal filler loadings, PP/clay nanocomposites exhibit an improvement in dimensional stability and were the only composites capable of reduced shrinkage in both in‐flow and cross‐flow directions. The flexural modulus of PP increased nearly 20% by compounding with 4% organoclay, as compared to a similar performance obtained by compounding with 10 wt.‐% of CaCO~3~ or approximately 6 wt.‐% of glass fiber. The HDT and thermal stability of PP were enhanced by using nanoclay as filler.
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