Polymer Nanocomposites Containing 4,4′-Methylene bis(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline) and N,N′-(Pyromellitoyl)-bis-L-phenylalanine Diacid Reinforced with Modified ZnO and Organo-Montmorillonite

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) and organoclay (OC) as two nanofillers, on the properties of the poly(amide-imide) (PAI)/ZnO/OC nanocomposites (NCs). At first novel optically active PAI was prepared by one step polycondensation reaction of N,N′-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-L-phenylalanine diacid with 4,4′-methylenebis(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline) under green media. Subsequently dispersion of silane coupling agent modified ZnO nanoparticles in the obtained PAI matrix was performed using ultrasonic system. Then, PAI/ZnO/OC NCs with 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9% of OC contents were prepared via a solution intercalation technique. The properties of these NCs were studied by different techniques.

Keywords:

• Amino acid modified nanoclay
• Nanocomposites
• Poly(amide-imide)
• Solution intercalation technique
• ZnO nanostructure

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the Research Affairs Division Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), Isfahan, for partial financial support. Further financial support from Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC), National Elite Foundation (NEF) and Center of Excellency in Sensors and Green Chemistry Research (IUT) are gratefully acknowledged. We also thank to Mr. M. Dinari, Miss M. Khani, Miss F. Zaraatpisheh and Mr. A. Zadehnazari for their helpful assistant.

Notes

^a Temperature at which 5% weight loss was recorded by TGA at heating rate of 20°C min⁻¹ in a N₂ atmosphere.

^b Temperature at which 10% weight loss was recorded by TGA at heating rate of 20°C · min⁻¹ in a N₂ atmosphere.

^c Weight percent of the material left undecomposed after TGA at maximum temperature of 800°C in a N₂ atmosphere.

^d Limiting oxygen index (LOI) evaluated at char yield at 800°C.