Preparation and properties of PP/sepiolite intercalation nanocomposites

摘要

Modified sepiolite was prepared by the exchanging inorganic cations with the cationic surfactant CTAB, and then polystyrene/modified sepiolite (PS/m-sepiolite) was synthesized by in-situ emulsion polymerization of styrene. Finally well dispersed PP/PS/m-sepiolite composites were prepared by melt blending polypropylene (PP) with PS/m-sepiolite. The structures and properties of PP/PS/m-sepiolite composites were characterized by XRD, DSC, SEM and impact tester, etc.. Modified sepiolite has good surface lipophilicity; XRD patterns indicate that the interlamellar spacing of m-sepiolite has expanded and PP molecule has been inserted into the m-sepiolite, and the intercalation nanocomposites have been prepared. The DSC results show that the addition of m-sepiolite results in heterogeneous nucleation crystallization of PP and significantly enhances the crystallinity of PP. It is verified that the m-sepiolite could greatly improve the impact strength compared to pure PP. The SEM images show that the m-sepiolite layers has been exfoliated into nanometer size and dispersed uniformly in the PP matrix.