Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/Maleic Anhydride Compatibilized Polypropylene/Organo-Vermiculite Nanocomposites

Abstract

Polypropylene/Maleic anhydride compatibilized polypropylene (MPP)/Organo-Vermiculite nanocomposites with different clay loadings were prepared via melt mixing using a twin screw extruder. The vermiculite (VMT) was pre-modified with Maleic anhydride (MA) by ball milling. The mechanism of VMT modification by MA was discussed. The resultant PP/MPP/OVMT nanocomposites possess an intercalated or exfoliated structure as confirmed by both wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanical property tests show that the tensile strength, flexural strength of these nanocomposites increase dramatically with the OVMT loading; the fracture toughness remain almost unchanged, and the Charpy impact strength decrease slightly.

Keywords:

• Cracking of hydraulic mass concrete
• Maleic anhydride
• Mechanical properties
• Nanocomposites
• Polypropylene
• Vermiculite

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

China national science foundation key research project “Research on criteria of crack formation and preventive measures of modern hydraulic mass concrete” (Project number: 50539010) China non-profit research institute research fund key research project “The preparation and application of novel material to preventing and repairing the concrete destroyed by impacting” (Project number: YWF0729/CL02).

Notes

^a Charpy impact strength of notched specimens.