The development of technology for melt processing of clay/polypropylene nanocomposites

Han, Z., 2004. The development of technology for melt processing of clay/polypropylene nanocomposites. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

Polypropylene is an inexpensive non-toxic polymer and is ideal for food and drink packaging applications. However, its application for enclosures of carbonated liquid containers is unfulfilled due to its inadequate barrier resistance to gases and its low stiffness. The newly merged layered silicate/polymer nanocomposites have the potential to be an effective approach to improve these two properties at low cost. This project has developed the technology for producing clay/polypropylene nanocomposites via direct melt compounding using conventional reactive melt processing equipment.

Several model S3mthetic methods have been investigated. These methods include direct intercalation between clay and polymers, intercalation between maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene and polypropylene and compatibiliser assisted melt intercalation. In addition, the effects of processing conditions and stabilisers on the melt intercalation were studied. These studies provided a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of intercalation and their relation to the engineering properties of the nanocomposites.

Based on the understanding obtained in the model synthetic study, two novel synthetic technologies have been developed, these are solid intercalation/melt processing and nylon assisted melt intercalation. The solid intercalation/melt processing utilise the high efficiency of intercalation in in-situ polymerisation and allow the processing to occur in conventional polymer processing equipment. Nylon assisted melt intercalation takes advantage of the easy exfoliation of clay in nylon and then the transfer of the composite structure into polypropylene. This technique also resulted in an important finding that the compatibility between nylon and polypropylene can be improved significantly in the presence of clay. Although the development of these two methods is in a preliminary stage, the results obtained so far already show the advantage of these two technologies over other methods developed. It is anticipated that better quality clay/polypropylene nanocomposites can be developed through the further progress of these two methods.

Item Type:	Thesis
Creators:	Han, Z.
Date:	2004
ISBN:	9781369313314
Identifiers:	Number Type PQ10183039 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	28 Aug 2020 14:54
Last Modified:	22 Jun 2023 09:03
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/40595

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