Optimal mechanical and gas permeation properties of polypropylene-organically modified montmorillonite (PP-OMMT) nanocomposites

摘要

This article focuses on obtaining optimal mechanical properties of polypropylene-organically modified montmorillonite (PP-OMMT) nanocomposites for different objectives using simulations. The primary objective was to minimize the cost of the PP-OMMT nanocomposites. The other aim was to obtain specific desired properties of the nanocomposite (irrespective of the nanocomposite cost). The later simulation results are useful in designing products where quality of the nanocomposite cannot be compromised (while the cost of the PP-OMMT is secondary). The properties that were optimized include Young's modulus and oxygen permeation. Regression models were obtained and used to predict these properties as functions of corresponding compositions of the composites. Further, optimization procedures were simulated using these models along with other constraints and objective functions. All simulations were programmed using MATLAB version 7.10.0 (R2010a).