Preparation, Characterization And Property Studies Of Polyester (PC, PET, PBT)/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

Four thermal stable organically-modified clays were prepared by using lowmolecular weight polystyryl and poly(methyl methacrylate) ammonium salts. Theorgano-clays were used to produce polyester(PC, PBT, PET)/montmorillonitenanocomposites by melt processing using a twin screw extruder. X-ray diffraction(XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA),differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical measurements were used toevaluate the morphologies and properties of the nanocomposites. The colorappearances of the PC/MMT composites were described by photo-method. Bymonitoring the changes of morphologies and properties of the composites withdifferent clay content (1wt%, 2wt%, 3wt%) and different structure of surfactants,the effect of clay loading and surfactant structure on the morphologies, structures,mechanical properties, thermal stabilities, crystallization behavior and colorappearances of the nanocomposites were investigated. TEM and XRD results indicated that the nancomposites prepared from COPS surfactants had exfoliated andintercalated mixed structures and the nanocomposites prepared from MAPSsurfactants had intercalated structure. Mechanical property results showed improvedphysical properties of PC nanocomposites. TGA results indicated that thermalstabilities of most of the nanocomposites have not improved and decreased slightlywith some samples. DTA data recorded under atmosphere showed an enhanced heatinsulation property of the PC composites. DSC data showed that the crystallizationbehaviors of PBT and PET composites have been changed greatly. The colorformation problem in the PC nanocomposites processing was resolved by a greatdegree by using polymerically-modified clays.