Structure Analysis of PVC Nanocomposites |
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Authors: | Lucie Kovarova Alena Kalendova Jean-Francois Gerard Jiri Malac Josef Simonik Zdenek Weiss |
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Affiliation: | 1. The Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TGM 275, 762 72 Zlin, Czech Republic, Fax: (+420) 57 603 1328;2. Laboratoire des Materiaux Macromoleculaires UMR CNRS 5627/IMP, INSA, Lyon, France;3. Central Analytical Laboratory, Technical University Ostrava, 708 33 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic |
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Abstract: | In this paper poly(vinyl chloride)/clay nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation using a single screw extruder. Problems with thermal stability of these nanocomposites during compounding were largely eliminated by pre-treatment of the organoclay with plasticizer (dioctyl phthalate), which created a barrier between polymer and quaternary amine. These nanocomposite materials were analyzed with respect to their morphology. The intercalation, exfoliation, nano-phase dispersion and orientation were investigated using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, different types of sample preparation for these techniques were tested as well. It was found that partially intercalated and disordered structure arose in poly (vinyl chloride) composites containing sodium type of montmorillonite, while a fine dispersion of partial to nearly full exfoliation of individual montmorillonite layers in poly (vinyl chloride) matrix was observed when this clay was organically modified. Finally, the influence of different mixing time (in extruder) on nano-phase morphology was surveyed. |
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Keywords: | melt intercalation montmorillonite morphology nanocomposites poly(vinyl chloride) |
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