• 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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1199-1203
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• 2011

Nanocomposites were prepared through the compounding of rubber and clay. Measurements of the static and dynamic mechanical properties of different compositions over a temperature range $70-100^{\circ}C$ showed that the mechanical properties of these rubber/clay nanocomposites are superior to those of existing rubber materials. In this study, by using the parameter of the maximum Green.Lagrange strain appearing at certain locations, the relationship between fatigue life and maximum Green.Lagrange strain, and the correlations between test-piece tests and bench tests of actual rubber components are proved. In order to predict the fatigue life of rubber components at the design stage, a simple procedure of life prediction is suggested. The predicted fatigue lives of the rubber engine mounts agree fairly well with the fatigue lives determined experimentally.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2023

Arsenic is a highly toxic element, and its contamination is widespread around the world. The natural materials with high selectivity and efficiency toward pollutants are important in wastewater treatment technology. In this study, the mesoporous synthetic hectorite was synthesized by facile hydrothermal crystallization of gels comprising silica, magnesium hydroxide, and lithium fluoride. Additionally, the naturally available clay was modified using zirconium at room temperature. Both synthetic and modified natural clays were employed in the removal of arsenate from aquatic environments. The materials were fully characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) analyses. The synthesized materials were used to remove arsenic (V) under varied physicochemical conditions. Both materials, i.e., Zr-bentonite and Zr-hectorite, showed high percentage removal of arsenic (V) at lower pH, and the efficiency decreased in an alkaline medium. The equilibrium-state sorption data agrees well with the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, and the maximum sorption capacity is found to be 4.608 and 2.207 mg/g for Zr-bentonite and Zr-hectorite, respectively. The kinetic data fits well with the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Furthermore, the effect of the background electrolytes study indicated that arsenic (V) is specifically sorbed at the surface of these two nanocomposites. This study demonstrated that zirconium intercalated synthetic hectorite as well as zirconium modified natural clays are effective and efficient materials for the selective removal of arsenic (V) from aqueous medium.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2005

Nanocomposites of three different polyesters with dodecyltriphenylphosphonium-montmorillonite $(C_{12}PPh-MMT)$ as an organoclay are compared with their thermal properties, mechanical properties, and morphologies. Poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) were used as matrix polymers in the fabrication of polyester nanocomposite fibers. The variations of their properties with organoclay content in the polymer matrix and draw ratio (DR) are discussed. 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 thermal stabilities and mechanical properties of the polyester nanocomposite fibers. Even polymers with low organoclay contents $(<5\;wt\%)$ were found to exhibit much higher strength and modulus values than pure polyester fibers. In the cases of all polyester hybrid fibers, the values of the tensile mechanical properties were found to decrease linearly with increasing DR. However, the initial tensile modulus of the PTT hybrid fibers were found to be independent of DR.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.518-525
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• 2007

The thermomechanical properties and morphologies of nanocomposite fibers of poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET) incorporating thermally stable organoclays are compared. Dodecyltriphenyl-phosphonium-mica($C_{12}PPh-Mica$) and 1-hexadecane benzimidazole-mica ($C_{16}BIMD-Mica$) were used as reinforcing fillers in the fabrication of PET hybrid fibers. Dispersions of organoclays with PET were studied by using the in-situ polymerization method at various organoclay contents to produce nano-scale composites. The thermo-mechanical properties and morphologies of the PET hybrid fibers were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and a universal tensile machine (UTM). 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 thermal stabilities and mechanical properties of the PET nanocomposite fibers. Even polymers with low organoclay content (<5 wt%) were found to exhibit much higher thermo-mechanical values than pure PET fibers.

• 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.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2006

In this study, modified DA-MMT filled NR/DA-MMT nanocomposites were manufactured by a latex method and a compounding method. Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of the Cloisite 15A, carbon black, Na-MMT filled NR compounds and the DA-MMT filled NR compound by a latex method were also evaluated. The filler content of all compounds was 10phr except the carbon black filled compound. Degree of intercalation and dispersion was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). According to the XRD diffraction pattern and TEM analysis, extensive intercalation and homogeneous dispersion of the clay were obtained after the two-roll milling. Although the layer distance was increased, some parts of DA-MMT showed the layer distance of Na-MMT after vulcanization. DA-MMT filled NR compounds showed the highest ODR torques, tensile strength, modulus, and tear energy. The NR/DA-MMT nanocomposite (by a latex method) compared with a NR/DA-MMT nanocomposite (by a compounding method) was found that the improvement of the mechanical properties was mainly due to the degree of dispersion of the clay.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.381-388
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• 2002

The properties of polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites with organoclay have been compared in terms of their thermo-mechanical properties, morphology, and gas permeability. Hexadecylamine-montmorillonite ($C_{16}$-MMT) was used as an organoclay to make PU hybrid films. The properties were investigated as a function of organoclay content (1-4 wt%) in the PU matrix. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) photographs showed that most clay layers were dispersed homogeneously into the matrix polymer in nano-scale, although some particles of clay were agglomerated. We also found that the addition of only a small amount of organoclay was enough to improve the thermal stabilities and mechanical properties of PU hybrid films while gas permeability was reduced. Even at low organoclay content (<5 wt%), the PU nanocomposite showed much better thermo-mechanical properties, and lower gas permeability than pure PU.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.876-883
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• 2001

A thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester (TLCP) containing a side group was, synthesized from ethoxyhydroquinone and bromoterephthalic acid. Intercalation of TLCP in layered clays is accomplished by heating the polymer with hexadecyl ammonium-montmorillonite ($C_{16}$) above melting transition temperature ($T_m$). Liquid crystallinity of the TLCP/$C_{16}$-hybrid was observed up to 6 wt% $C_{16}$-MMT. Some of the $C_{16}$-MMTs in TLCP were highly dispersed in a nanometer scale, but some of them were agglomerated. Thermal and morphological properties of the nanocomposites were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), polarized optical microscope, and electron microscopes (SEM and TEM).

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.263-269
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• 2001

MAPTAC-MMT was prepared by exchanging the mineral cation (sodium montmorillonite) with 3-(methacryloyl amino) propyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, thus rendering the mineral organophilic and forming polymerizable moieties directly bonded to the surface of montmorillonite (MMT). Thermoresponsive nanocomposites (PNIPAM-MMT) were synthesized by polymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide in an aqueous suspension of MAPTAC-MMT at room temperature. Thermoresponsive nanocomposites exhibited a low critical solution temperature (LCST) similar to unmodified poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM). The LCST of thermoresponsive nanocomposites decreased in proportion to the amount of MAPTAC-MMT. TGA results showed that the thermal stability of thermoresponsive nanocomposites was improved compared to PNIPAM itself the thermoresponsive polymer.