Graft Copolymerization of Methacrylic Acid, Acrylic Acid and Methyl Acrylate onto Styrene–Butadiene Block Copolymer

Methyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, and acrylic acid have been graft copolymerized onto styrene–butadiene block copolymer. All three monomers react through the macroradical interacting with the double bond of butadiene. The site of reaction has been established by infrared spectroscopy. For methyl acrylate every unit of the styrene–butadiene block copolymer is grafted but only a small fraction is grafted when the acids are used. The difference apparently lies in the fact that the reaction with the ester is homogeneous while with the acids the reactions are heterogeneous

Polyethylene and Polypropylene Nanocomposites based upon an Oligomerically-Modified Clay

Montmorillonite clay was modified with an oligomeric surfactant, which was then melt blended with polyethylene and polypropylene in a Brabender mixer. The morphology was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, while thermal stability was evaluated from thermogravimetric analysis and the fire properties by cone calorimetry. The nanocomposites are best described as mixed immiscible/intercalated/delaminated systems and the reduction in peak heat release rate is about 40% at 5% inorganic clay loading

Fire properties of styrenic polymer–clay nanocomposites based on an oligomerically-modified clay

An oligomerically-modified clay has been used to fabricate nanocomposites with styrenic polymers, such as polystyrene, high-impacted polystyrene, poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene by melt blending. The clay dispersion was evaluated by X-ray diffraction and bright field transmission electron microscopy. All of the nanocomposites have a mixed delaminated/intercalated structure. The fire properties of nanocomposites were evaluated by cone calorimetry and the mechanical properties were also evaluated

Thermal and Flame Properties of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Nanocomposites Based on an Oligomerically–Modified Clay

An oligomerically-modified clay was made using a surfactant which is the ammonium salt of an oligomer. The newly modified clay contains 37.5% inorganic clay and 62.5% oligomer. Polyethylene and polypropylene nanocomposites were made by melt blending the polymer with the oligomerically-modified clay in a Brabender mixer at various clay loadings. The structure of the nanocomposites was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Mechanical testing showed that the polyethylene nanocomposites had an enhanced Young\u27s modulus and slightly decreased elongation, while the changes for polypropylene nanocomposites are small compared with the virgin polymers. The thermal stability and flame properties were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry, respectively. The plasticising effect of the oligomer was suppressed because of the increased inorganic content. The maximum reduction in peak heat release rate is about 40%

Study on the thermal stability of Polystyryl surfactants and its modified clay nanocomposites

Five oligomeric styrene surfactants, N,N,N-trimethylpolystyrylammonium, N,N-dimethyl-N-benzylpolystyrylammonium, N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylpolystyrylammonium, 1,2-dimethyl-3-polystyrylimidazolium, and triphenylpolystyrylphosphonium chlorides were synthesized and used to prepare organically modified clays. Both styrene and methyl methacrylate nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending and the type of nanocomposite was evaluated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The thermal stability of the organically modified clays and the nanocomposites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis; these systems do give clays which have good thermal stability and may be useful for melt blending with polymers that must be processed at higher temperatures

Poly(Methyl Methacrylate), Polypropylene and Polyethylene Nanocomposite Formation by Melt Blending using Novel Polymerically-Modified Clays

Two new organically-modified clays that contain an oligomeric styrene or methacrylate have been prepared and used to produce nanocomposites of poly(methyl methacryate), polypropylene and polyethylene. Intercalated nanocomposites and, in some cases, exfoliated or mixed intercalated/exfoliated nanocomposites of all of these polymers have been produced by melt blending in a Brabender mixer. The use of the styrene-containing clay permits the direct blending of the clay with polypropylene, without the usual need for maleation, to produce the nanocomposites. The systems have all been characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, cone calorimetry and the measurement of mechanical properties. These novel new clays open new opportunities for melt blending of polymers with clays to obtain nanocomposites with important propertie

Polystyrene Nanocomposites based on Carbazole-Containing Surfactants

New organically-modified clays containing a carbazole unit were prepared and the number of long alkyl chains on the surfactant was varied. The clay was used to prepare polystyrene nanocomposites by both bulk polymerization and melt blending. The dispersion of these clays in the polymer matrix was evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal stability of the clays and the nanocomposites were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) while the fire properties were evaluated by cone calorimetry. If more than two alkyl chains were present, the gallery spacing is apparently overcrowded, leading to poor dispersion. Bulk polymerization gave nanocomposites with better dispersion and reduced flammability when compared to the melt blending process

Methyl Methacrylate Oligomerically-Modified Clay and its Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Nanocomposites

A methyl methacrylate oligomerically-modified clay was used to prepare poly(methyl methacrylate) clay nanocomposites by melt blending and the effect of the clay loading level on the modified clay and corresponding nanocomposite was studied. These nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry. The results show a mixed intercalated/delaminated morphology with good nanodispersion. The compatibility between the methylacrylate-subsituted clay and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) are greatly improved compared to other oligomerically-modified clays

Novel Polymerically-Modified Clays Permit the Preparation of Intercalated and Exfoliated Nanocomposites of Styrene and its Copolymers by Melt Blending

Two new organically-modified clays have been made and used to produce nanocomposites of polystyrene, high impact polystyrene and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terploymer. At a minimum, intercalated nanocomposites of all of these polymers have been produced by melt blending in a Brabender mixer and, in some cases, exfoliated nanocomposites have been obtained. The systems have all been characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, cone calorimetry and the measurement of mechanical properties. These novel new clays open new opportunities for melt blending of polymers with clays to obtain nanocomposites with important properties

Polybutadiene modified clay and its nanocomposites

A butadiene-modified clay was prepared by ionic exchange between sodium montmorillonite and a butadiene surfactant; the butadiene surfactant was obtained from the reaction of vinylbenzyl chloride grafted polybutadiene with a tertiary amine. Nanocomposites of polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terpolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate), polypropylene and polyethylene were prepared by melt blending this modified clay with the virgin polymers. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, cone calorimetry and the evaluation of mechanical properties. A morphological study of PBD-modified clay–polymer nanocomposites shows that all the composites are immiscible micro-composites. The consistency of the result from XRD and TEM with that of cone calorimetry indicates that the cone calorimeter must also be considered as another method to examine the bulk sample and infer if good dispersion of the clay in the polymer has been achieved. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites prepared from different methods show that the mechanical properties are, in general, predictable based on the type of dispersion