Rheological properties and crystal morphology of poly(ethylene oxide)/clay nanocomposites

✍ Scribed by Debdatta Ratna; Thomas Abraham

• Publisher: Society for Plastic Engineers
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 878 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0272-8397
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.21140

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by a solution intercalation method. The crystallization behavior of the nanocomposites was investigated by a cross‐polarized optical microscopy (CPOM) fitted with a hot‐stage facility. A decrease in size and regularity were observed as a result of incorporation of clay into the PEO matrix. The dynamic viscoelastic behavior of PEO/organoclay nanocomposites was assessed using a strain‐controlled parallel plate rheometer. The effects of clay concentration on the rheological properties of the nanocomposites were extensively studied. A significant increase in the viscosity and storage modulus of the nanocomposites was found with increasing clay content. The reinforcing effect of the organoclay was determined by using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and compared with the theoretically calculated values. POLYM. COMPOS., © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers.