Thermal Characteristics of Nanostructured Filler-Incorporated Polyvinylester Nanocomposites

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation is to probe the influence of organically modified layered silicates (o-montmorilonite, o-MMT) content on mechanical and thermal behaviors of vinyl ester/o-MMT (organoclays) nanocomposites. Polyvinyl ester nanocomposites were synthesized with o-MMT by in-situ polymerization technique. The prepared vinyl ester/o-MMT composites have been characterized for mechanical properties such as tensile properties and impact strength. Thermal characteristics of the vinyl ester/o-MMT nanocomposites were evaluated by using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA). The thermal degradation kinetic parameters such as activation energy (E_a) of nanocomposites were evaluated by using three mathematical models, namely Horowitz–Metzger, Coats–Redfern and Broido's methods.

Keywords:

• Damping behavior
• Degradation kinetics
• Glass transitions
• Mechanical properties
• Montmorillonite
• Polyvinyl ester