Article

Quantitative Characterization of the Structure of PP/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites at Various Length Scales

  1. Zita Dominkovics1,2,*,
  2. Károly Renner1,2,
  3. Béla Pukánszky Jr.1,2,
  4. Béla Pukánszky1,2

Article first published online: 11 JUL 2008

DOI: 10.1002/masy.200850709

Issue

Macromolecular Symposia

Macromolecular Symposia

Special Issue: Nanostructured Polymers and Polymer Nanocomposites

Volume 267, Issue 1, pages 52–56, June 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Dominkovics, Z., Renner, K., Pukánszky, B. and Pukánszky, B. (2008), Quantitative Characterization of the Structure of PP/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites at Various Length Scales. Macromol. Symp., 267: 52–56. doi: 10.1002/masy.200850709

Author Information

  1. 1

    Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521 Budapest, P.O. Box 91, Hungary Fax: 0036-1-463-3474;

  2. 2

    Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 17, Hungary

*Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521 Budapest, P.O. Box 91, Hungary Fax: 0036-1-463-3474;.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 JUL 2008
  2. Article first published online: 11 JUL 2008

Funded by

  • OTKA. Grant Number: K 68748

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Keywords:

  • layered silicates;
  • PP;
  • rheology;
  • SEM;
  • structure;
  • TEM;
  • WAXS

Abstract

The structure and rheological properties of a large number of layered silicate polypropylene nanocomposites were studied with widely varying compositions. Unlike general practice, morphology was characterized at different length scales covering several decades by SEM, TEM, and XRD. Rheological measurements supplied additional information about structure. The results showed that these materials possess a very complex structural architecture. The introduction of a functionalized polymer decreases the size of the original clay particles. However, relatively large silicate particles were found also in composite samples yielding XRD traces without silicate reflection. We found that not only two (individual layers, intercalated stacks), but four morphological entities, i.e. also particles and a silicate network, may be present simultaneously in the composites. An attempt was made to characterize morphology quantitatively, wherever possible. SEM and TEM micrographs were evaluated by image analysis, XRD traces by curve fitting, while a model was developed to determine relaxation time from rheological measurements, but only XRD and SEM results are reported here.

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