Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Covalently Functionalized Organoclay and Its Polypropylene Nanocomposite

摘要

A covalently functionalized organoclay wassynthesized successfully through a condensation reactionof SiOH groups on the edge of montmorillonite (MMT)with acryloyl chloride followed by modification with hexa-decyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) via an ion-exchange reaction. Fourier transform infrared confirmedthat C=C groups had been grafted to MMT sheets. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurements showed that CTABhad intercalated into MMT interlayers. The content ofbonded acryloyl chloride was 2.42 wt % in the functional-ized organoclay according to thermogravimetric analysis.Polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing. Rheological measurements and morphologyobservations confirmed that PP nanocomposites containingthe organoclay bearing C=C groups exhibited improvedinterfacial interaction between PP chains and MMT sheets.Thus, the PP nanocomposites showed not only higher stor-age modulus and complex viscosity values at low frequen-cies but also enhanced mechanical properties.