Preparation, Characterization and Surface Morphology of New Thermally Stable Poly(Ether-Imide)/Organoclay Nanocomposites

Abstract

In this study, a series of nanocomposites (NCs), consisting of organic poly(ether-imide) (PEI) and organomodified clay content varying from 0 to 10 wt%, was successfully prepared by solution intercalation. PEI, used as a matrix of nanocomposite, was prepared through the reaction of 1,4-bis[4-aminophenoxy]butane and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The resulting nanocomposite films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that organomodified clay was dispersed homogeneously in the PEI matrix. TGA indicated an enhancement of thermal stability of new NCs compared with the pure polymer.

Keywords:

• NANOCOMPOSITE
• ORGANOCLAY
• POLY(ETHER-IMIDE)
• SOLUTION INTERCALATION