• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.443-448
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• 2007

To improve the sound damping effect of flexible polyurethane foam, with an open-cell structure, various plate-like fillers, such as bentonite, organophilic clay and sodium montmorillonite intercalated with poly(ethylene glycol), were incorporated for the creation of nanocomposites. The plate-like fillers effectively improved the sound damping within the high frequency range. The structures of the nanocomposites and foam were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties and flammability of the foams were also examined.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.72-74
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• 2003

There has been extensive interest in the development of new nanocomposites. One kind of these systems is the hybrid based on organic polymers and inorganic minerals consisting of layered silicates. Some properties like stiffness, strength, barrier properties, thermal, and oxidative stability can be improved by the presence of the filler in the polymeric matrix[1]. It is reported that, in the nylon 6/clay nanocomposites, the modulus is increased, but impact strength and elongation at break are drastically decreased. (omitted)

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.186-191
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• 2000

Clay-dispersed nanocomposites have been prepared by simple melt-mixing of three components, i.e. poly (styrene co-acrylonitrile) copolymer (SAN), poly ($\xi$-caprolactone ) (PCL), and an organophilic clay(Cloisite(R) 30A). In the present study, poly($\xi$-caprolactone) was added in the mixtures in order to facilitate the intercalation of SAN into the gallery of silicate layers, and the molecular weight effects of PCL on the dispersion of silicate layers were compared by changing the amount of added PCL. The degree of dispersion of 10-$\AA$-thick silicate layers of clay in the nanocomposites was investigated by using an X-ray diffractometer and a transmission electron microscope. It was found that PCL added in the mixture facilitate the intercalation of SAN copolymers into the galleries of silicate layers modified with an organic intercalant, resulting in the better dispersion of clay. It was, also, observed that the processing temperature influences the degree of clay dispersion.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.208-212
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• 2009

The nano-clay is widely used in polymer-nanocomposites due to the high aspect ratio, heat resistance and nano-scale dimension. In recent researches, the thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethane foam were improved with introducing the nano-clay. In this study, we describe the influence of ultrasonic treatment and content of nano-clay on properties of polyurethane foam. The nano-clay/polyurethane foam were characterized using their recovery time, compressive deflection, cell morphology and tensile test. The ultrasonic treatment was very effective for dispersion of nano-clay. Moreover, we found that introducing over 3 wt% of nano-clay bring the decrease of properties due to the poor dispersion. Expecially, ultrasonically treated 20A/polyurethane foam(1 wt%) showed greatly improved properties, such as homogeneous cell size and good dimension stability. We expect that our results could be applied to insulating materials for construction.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.410-417
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• 2003

Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-acrylonitrile) [P(MMA-co-AN)]/Na-MMT nanocomposites were synthesized through emulsion polymerization with pristine Na-MMT. The nanocomposites were exfoliated up to 20 wt% content of pristine Na-MMT relative to the amount of MMA and AN, and exhibited enhanced storage moduli, E', relative to the neat copolymer. The exfoliated morphology of the nanocomposite was confirmed by XRD and TEM. 2-Acryla-mido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) widened the galleries between the clay layers before polymerization and facilitated the comonomers, penetration into the clay to create the exfoliated nanocomposites. The onset of the thermal decomposition of the nanocomposites shifted to a higher temperature as the clay content increased. By calculating areas of tan$\delta$ of the nanocomposites, we observed that the nanocomposites show more solid-like behavior as the clay content increases. The dynamic storage modulus and complex viscosity increased with clay content. The complex viscosity showed shear-thinning behavior as the clay content increased. The Young's moduli of the nano-composites are higher than that of the neat copolymer and they increase steadily as the silicate content increases, as a result of the exfoliated structure at high clay content.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.428-435
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• 2007

The thermomechanical property, morphology, and gas permeability of nanocomposites of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with two different organoclays are compared. Hexamethylene benzimidazole-mica ($C_{16}BIMD-Mica$) and Cloisite 25A were used as reinforcing fillers in the formation of UHMWPE hybrid films. Dispersions of organoclays with UHMWPE were carried out by using the solution intercalation method at different organoclay contents to produce nano-scale composites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs show that some of the clay layers are dispersed homogeneously within the polymer matrix on the nano-scale, although some clay particles are agglomerated. We also found that the addition of only a small amount of organoclay is enough to improve the thermomechanical property and gas barrier of the UHMWPE hybrid films. In general, Cloisite 25A is more effective than $C_{16}BIMD-Mica$ in increasing both the thermomechanical property and the gas barrier in a UHMWPE matrix.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.449-458
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• 2007

The aims of this study were to investigate the intercalation of polymer chains with organoclays and improve the thermo-mechanical properties of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) hybrids by comparing PBT hybrids synthesized using two different organoclays. The organoclays; dodecyltriphenylphosphonium-montmorillonite ($C_{12}PPh-MMT$) and dodecyltriphenylphosphonium-mica ($C_{12}PPh-Mica$), were used to fabricate the PBT hybrid fibers. Variations in the properties of the hybrid fibers with the organoclays within the polymer matrix, as well as the draw ratio (DR), are discussed. The thermo-mechanical properties and morphologies of the PBT hybrid fibers were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and mechanical tensile properties analysis. The nanostructures of the hybrid fibers were determined using both scanning and transmission electron microscopies, which showed some of the clay layers to be well dispersed within the matrix polymer, although some clustered or agglomerated particles were also detected. The thermal properties of the hybrid fibers were found to be better than those of the pure PBT fibers at a DR = 1. The tensile mechanical properties of the $C_{12}PPh-MMT$ hybrid fibers were found to worsen with increasing DR. However, the initial moduli of the $C_{12}PPh-Mica$ hybrid fibers were found to slightly increase on increasing the DR from 1 to 18.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2005

Biodegradable nanocomposites were prepared by mixing a polymer resin and layered silicates by the melt intercalation method. Internal structure of the nanocomposite was characterized by using the small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Nanocomposites having exfoliated and intercalated structures were obtained by employing two different organically modified nanoclays. Rheological properties in shear and extensional flows and biodegradability of nanocomposites were measured. In shear flow, shear thinning behavior and increased storage modulus were observed as the clay loading increased. In extensional flow, strain hardening behavior was observed in well dispersed system. Nanocomposites with the exfoliated structure had better biodegradability than nanocomposites with the intercalated structure or pure polymer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2008

Reinforced open cell micro structured foams were prepared by the polymerization of high internal phase emulsions incorporating inorganic thickeners. Organoclays were used as oil phase thickener, and sodium montmorillonite was used as aqueous phase thickener. Rheological properties of emulsions increased as oil phase thickener concentration and agitation speed increased, due to the reduced drop size reflecting both competition between continuous and dispersed phase viscosities and increase of shear force. Drop size variation with thickener concentration could be explained by a dimensional analysis between capillary number and viscosity ratio. Upon the foams polymerized by the emulsions, compression properties, such as crush strength and Young's modulus were measured and compared. Among the microcellular foams, the foam incorporated with an organoclay having reactive group showed outstanding properties. It is speculated that the exfoliated silicate layers inside polystyrene matrix, resulting in nanocomposite foam, are the main reason why this foam has enhanced properties.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2019

The PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate)/clay nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ radical polymerizations with different clay contents (3 and 7 wt%) using microwave heating. The nanostructure, optical, and thermal properties of the synthesized PMMA/clay nanocomposites were measured by XRD, TEM, AFM, UV-vis, and TGA. It was found that the intercalated- or exfoliated structure of PMMA/clay nanocomposites was strongly dependent on the content of clay. Thus, the imposition of microwave-assisted polymerization facilitated a delamination process of layered silicates to achieve exfoliation state of interlayer distance. The PMMA/3 wt% C10A nanocomposite with well-dispersed and exfoliated clay nano-layers showed the good optical transparency similar to pure PMMA in this study. The thermal decomposition rates of the PMMA/clay nanocomposites become to be lower compared to that of the pure PMMA, indicating the intercalated- or exfoliated inorganic silicate has high thermal stability. A possible reason is that the thermally segmental motion of PMMA polymer into inorganic silicate interlayer spacing has increased the thermal stability of the PMMA/clay nanocomposites.