• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.252-257
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• 2010

Nanocomposites of blends of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) containing natural and organically modified montmorillonite clays ($Cloisite^{(R)}$25A and $Cloisite^{(R)}$15A) were prepared by solution mixing. Effect of clay on the miscibility, morphology and thermal properties of nanocomposites was investigated. DSC results showed that the addition of clay improved the miscibility of PMMA/SMA blends. Specifically, clay 15A was observed to be most effective than other clays in all nanocomposites regardless of MA contents of SMAs tested. Dispersion of clays was investigated using XRD and TEM and the nanocomposites containing clay 15A again showed the best clay dispersion than the ones with other clays.