Rheological and Structural Investigation of Layered Silicate Nanocomposites Based on Polyamide or Polyethylene: Influence of Processing Conditions and Volume Fraction Effects

• Published in: Macromolecular symposia. Vol. 221; no. 1; pp. 75 - 84
• Main Authors: Médéric, Pascal, Razafinimaro, Tolotrahasina, Aubry, Thierry, Moan, Michel, Klopffer, Marie-Hélène
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01-01-2005; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Clay (material); layered silicates; Matrices; Nanocomposites; polyamide; Polyamide resins; polyethylene; Polyethylenes; processing conditions; Rheological properties; rheology; Silicates; Volume fraction
• ISSN: 1022-1360; 1521-3900
• DOI: 10.1002/masy.200550308

Organoclay polymer nanocomposites offer improved material properties at very low filler loadings making them of immediate interest for industrial applications. In this study two matrices are used : a polar polymer, PA12, and a non polar polymer, LLDPE. Many articles focused on the importance of the chemistry used to modify the surface of the clay. Numerous papers studied the influence of the compatibilizing agent necessary to obtain intercalated structure, when the matrix is non polar. This paper demonstrates the importance of the way the clay was melt processed into the thermoplastic matrix. Layered silicate nanocomposites based on PA12 or LLDPE were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and rheological tests. The influence of volume fraction on rheological and structural properties is also investigated.