Syndiotactic poly(propylene)/organoclay nanocomposite fibers: influence of the nano‐filler and the compatibilizer on the fiber properties

Melt spinning of nanocomposites prepared from syndiotactic poly(propylene) (sPP) and organolayered silicate (M‐ODA), containing bound octadecyl ammonium chains, was investigated. The influence of the nano‐filler reinforcement and the role of the addition of maleic anhydride grafted isotactic poly(propylene) (iPP‐g‐MA) as compatibilizer with respect to the fiber proportion was examined. The presence of nano‐filler, the drawing ratio, and the compatibilizer addition afforded increased tenacity of the fibers. Only in the presence of the compatibilizer high drawing ratio of the sPP nanocomposite fibers was achieved. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was applied to monitor morphology development during nanocomposite fiber spinning in the presence and the absence of the compatibilizer. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.