Thermal Stability of Clay's Galleries in Polypropylene - Clay (montmorillonite) Nanocomposites using Polypropylene-gMaleic Anhydride as Compatibilizer

• Main Authors: Sotya Astutiningsih, Pandu Kinasih, Arief Wibowo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universitas Indonesia 2010-10-01
• Series: Makara Journal of Technology
• Subjects: cascade engineering, polypropylene clay nanocomposite, pp-g-ma, thermal stability
• Online Access: http://journal.ui.ac.id/technology/journal/article/view/155
• ISSN: 2355-2786; 2356-4539

<p>Superior properties of food packaging can be achieved using nanocomposite&nbsp;technology. However, fabrication of this materials are complex and expensive. Long term objectives of this research is&nbsp;the synthesis of low cost polypropylene clay nanocomposites (PPCN) via a short-cut method known as ‘cascade&nbsp;engineering’. Cascade engineering principle in PPCN fabrication is performed by using compatibilizer (to enable the&nbsp;mixing of PP and clay) masterbatch, and PPCN in one pot process using melt mixer. This paper present the&nbsp;experimental results using small-angle x-ray diffraction (XRD) on the thermal stability of the PPCN. Results from the&nbsp;XRD analysis showed that the clay was intercalated, however no significant changes were observed as a result of&nbsp;variation in mixing time. XRD patterns of the annealed PPCN showed reduction of MMT’s gallery (deintercalation)&nbsp;These phenomenon was probably caused by insufficient bonding and lack of compatibility between PP-g-MA and&nbsp;MMT.</p>