The Effect of Gel and Pressure Induced Flow (PIF) Processing Conditions on the Dispersion and Intercalation of MMT Nanoclay in UHMWPE/ Montmorillonite (MMT) Clay Based Nanocomposite Sheets

摘要

Abstract The preparation of dispersed nanoclay in nanocomposite sheets is reported based on preparation of UHMWPE gel sheet with nanoclay of MMT by using paraffin oil as a solvent, and removing this oil using PIF and extraction processes. The microstructure of gel sheet studied by X-Ray diffraction XRD, transmission electron microscopy (TEM); Scanning electron microscope (SEM); and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The obtained results show good dispersion, partially exfoliation and fully intercalation of MMT nano-particle. The MMT nanoparticles take place between the layers of microstructure gel sheet, i.e. ? MMT onto the layer surface by means of these processes in the misconstrue gel sheet shows that the layers spacing was increased significantly. For intercalated nanocomposites; different layers spacing corresponds to different chain flexibility and the presence of multi-peaks is caused by the processing of these materials. The images obtained by SEM present a gel-like layers structure of UHMWPE/MMT gel sheet as a result of the deformation and re-arrangement of the gel sheets during PIF process.