title: Study of rheological properties of polypropylene/organoclay hybrid materials.
abstract: Polypropylene nanocomposites reinforced with organic modified montmorillonite clay have been fabricated by melt compounding using extrusion. The morphology of the composites is studied with transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The melt-state rheological properties of the nanocomposites have been investigated as a function of temperature and organoclay loading. It is found that the organoclays are intercalated and dispersed evenly in the matrix. The storage and loss moduli of the hybrid composites decrease with temperature and increase with organoclay concentration. Both polypropylene and its composites demonstrate a melt-like rheological behavior, indicating the low degree of exfoliation of the organoclay. A shear thinning behavior is found for both polypropylene and its composites, but the onset of shear thinning for organoclay composites occurs at lower shear rates.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, 71 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 638075.
authors.forename: Suzhu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Songlin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ming Shyan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yong
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077215:Clay; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004548:Elasticity; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011126:Polypropylenes; D000077215:Clay