Mechanical and Crystalline Behavior of Polymeric Nanocomposites in Presence of Natural Clay

Parthajit  Pal; Mrinal Kanti  Kundu; Swinderjeetsingh  Kalra; Chapal Kumar  Das

doi:10.4236/ojapps.2012.24041

Parthajit Pal, Mrinal Kanti Kundu, Swinderjeetsingh Kalra, Chapal Kumar Das

Abstract: Fabrication of nanocomposites from immiscible polymer blend system has been represented in this work. A new type of natural clay named Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are modified by Polyethyleneimine (PEI) and these PEI grafted HNTs are incorporated into the immiscible blend system during melt mixing process to prepare halloysite based nanocomposites. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) study confirms the formation of PEI grafted HNTs. The nanocomposites are characterized by SEM for morphological study and, the dispersion manners of nanoclays by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Storage modulus is studied by Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) instrument. The tensile measurement explored better tensile property of nanocomposites as compared to the virgin blend. XRD is performed to determine the crystalline behavior of the nanocomposites as well as for blend. The above investigations reveal that the HNTs act as reinforcing as well as nucleating agent in the blend system.

Keywords: Nanocomposite; Mechanical; Crystallinity; Halloysite; Polyethyleneimine

Cite this paper: P. Pal, M. Kundu, S. Kalra and C. Das, "Mechanical and Crystalline Behavior of Polymeric Nanocomposites in Presence of Natural Clay," Open Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 4, 2012, pp. 277-282. doi: 10.4236/ojapps.2012.24041.

References

[1] L. Guimaraes, A. N. Enyashin, G. Seifert and H. A. Duarte, “Structural, Electronic, and Mechanical Properties of Single-Walled Halloysite Nanotube Models,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Vol. 114, No. 26, 2010, pp. 11358-11363. doi:10.1021/jp100902e

[2] M. Du, B. Guo and D. Jia, “Newly Emerging Applications of Halloysite Nanotubes: A Review,” Polymer International, Vol. 59, No. 5, 2010, pp. 574-582. doi:10.1002/pi.2754

[3] R. D. White, D. V. Bavykin and F. C. Walsh, “The Stability of Halloysite Nanotubes in Acidic and Alkaline Aqueous Suspensions,” Nanotechnology, Vol. 23, No. 6, 2012, pp. 065705 doi:10.1088/0957-4484/23/6/065705

[4] W. O. Yah, A. Takahara and Y. M. Lvov, “Selective Modification of Halloysite Lumen with Octadecylphosphonic Acid: New Inorganic Tubular Micelle,” Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 134, No. 3, 2012, pp. 1853-1859. doi:10.1021/ja210258y

[5] C. Wan, M. Li, X. Bai and Y. Zhang, “Synthesis and Characterization of Photoluminescent Eu(III) Coordination Halloysite Nanotube-Based Nanohybrids,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Vol. 113, No. 36, 2009, pp. 16238-16246. doi:10.1021/jp9051648

[6] Z. H. Lin, M. Peng and Q. Zheng, “Isothermal Crystallization Behavior of Polypropylene Catalloys,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 93, No. 2, 2004, pp. 877882. doi:10.1002/app.20501

[7] K. Prashantha, M. F. Lacrampe and P. Krawczak, “Processing and Characterization of Halloysite Nanotubes Filled Polypropylene Nanocomposites Based on a Masterbatch Route: Effect of Halloysites Treatment on Structural and Mechanical Properties,” eXPRESS Polymer Letters, Vol. 5, No. 4, 2011, pp. 295-307. doi:10.3144/expresspolymlett.2011.30

[8] N. Ning, Q. Yin, F. Luo, Q. Zhang, R. Du and Q. Fu, “Crystallization Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/Halloysite Composites,” Polymer, Vol. 48, No. 25, 2007, pp. 7374-7384. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2007.10.005

[9] M. Du, B. Guo and D. Jia, “Thermal Stability and Flame Retardant Effects of Halloysite Nanotubes on Poly (Propylene),” European Polymer Journal, Vol. 42, No. 6, 2006, pp. 1362-1369. doi:10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2005.12.006

[10] Y. Hu, L. Ye and X. Zhao, “Synthesis of the Melamine-Formaldehyde Polycondensate and Its Thermal Stabilization Effect on Polyoxymethylene,” Polymer, Vol. 47, No. 8, 2006, pp. 2649-2659. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2006.02.050

[11] G. Wypych, “Handbook of Polymers,” ChemTec Publishing, Toronto, 2012.

[12] P. S. Rao, B. Smitha, S. Sridhar and A. Krishnaiah, “Preparation and Performance of Poly(vinyl Alcohol)/Polyethyleneimine Blend Membranes for the Dehydration of 1,4-Dioxane by Pervaporation: Comparison with Glutaraldehyde Cross-Linked Membranes,” Separation and Purification Technology, Vol. 48, No. 3, 2006, pp. 244254. doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2005.07.031

[13] E. J. Petersen, R. A. Pinto, D. J. Mai, P. F. Landrum and Jr. W. J. Weber, “Influence of Polyethyleneimine Graftings of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Their Accumulation and Elimination by and Toxicity to Daphnia magna,” Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 45, No. 3, 2011, pp. 1133-1138. doi:10.1021/es1030239

[14] B. Gao, P. Jiang and H. Lei, “Studies on Adsorption Property of Novel Composite Adsorption Material PEI/ SiO2 for Uric Acid,” Materials Letters, Vol. 60, No. 28, 2006, pp. 3398-3404. doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2006.03.086

[15] J. Wang, K. H. Hu, Y. F. Xu and X. G. Hu, “Structural, Thermal, and Tribological Properties of Intercalated Polyoxymethylene/Molybdenum Disulfide Nanocomposites,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 110, No. 1, 2008, pp. 91-96. doi:10.1002/app.28519

[16] G. V. Vinogradov and B. V. Yarlykov, “Fibrillation in the Flow of Polyoxymethylene Melts,” Polymer, Vol. 16, No. 8, 1975, pp. 609-614. doi:10.1016/0032-3861(75)90156-1