title: Spectromicroscopy study of intercalation and exfoliation in polypropylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites.
abstract: We present a combined study by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) of the successful formation of nanocomposites of polypropylene with montmorillonite by melt processing, providing a complete picture of the intercalation and exfoliation processes taking place. The nanocomposites contained 5 wt % of an organically modified montmorillonite, and different amounts of polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride, used as a polar compatibilizer. Microscopy reveals a complex morphology, with partial intercalation/exfoliation, which depends on the concentration of compatibilizer. STXM spectromicroscopy provides direct information of the presence of different polymer components at the polymer-silicate interfaces and details on the intercalation mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Polímeros, ICTP-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain. zmartin@ictp.csic.es
authors.forename: Zulima
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: M Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Harald W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ade
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kilcoyne
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hernádez-Cruz