Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) nanocomposite fibers by in situ intercalation polymerization:thermo-mechanical properties and morphology (I)

摘要

A series of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) nanocomposites,containing an organically modified montmorillonite (C_12PPh-MMT),were prepared by in situ intercalation polymerization of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and 1,3-propanediol (PDO).The PTT nanocomposites were melt-spun at different organoclay contents and different draw ratios (DRs) to produce monofilaments.The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction,electron microscopy,universal tensile testing,differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis.Some of the clay particles appeared well dispersed within the PTT matrix,while others were found to agglomerate with a size greater than 10 nm.The addition of a small amount of C1_2PPh-MMT was sufficient to improve the thermo-mechanical properties of the PTT hybrid fibers.Both the thermal stability and the tensile strength increased with increasing clay content at DR = 1.As the DR was increased from 1 to 9,the ultimate tensile strength of the hybrid fibers decreased,while the initial modulus remained constant.