• 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.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.478-485
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• 2012

A series of transparent polyimide (PI) nanocomposite films was synthesized from bicyclo(2,2,2)oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 1,3-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene (BAPB) with various organoclay contents via solution intercalation polymerization to poly(amic acid)s, followed by thermal imidization. Varying organoclay loading in a range of 0 to 1.5 wt% produced variations in the optical transparency, morphology, and oxygen barrier property of the hybrids. An optimum oxygen barrier property was observed for the hybrids containing 1.0 wt% Cloisite 30B; these properties were degraded gradually by further increases in the clay content. The PI hybrid films were found to exhibit excellent optical transparency and almost no color. However, the transparency of the hybrid films decreased slightly with increasing organoclay content. Transparent PI hybrid films containing 1.0 wt% Cloisite 30B were stretched equi-biaxially with various stretching ratios in a range of 100-140% to investigate their optical transparency and oxygen permeability in detail; the variations of clay dispersion and morphology were also determined as a function of equi-biaxial stretching ratio. PI hybrid films with ${\geq}120%$ stretching were found to contain homogeneously dispersed clay in the polymer matrix and exfoliated nanocomposites. The highest barrier to oxygen permeation was found at an equi-biaxial stretching ratio of 130%.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2011

We prepared polyurethane foam/cloisite30B/phosphates composites and characterized their rise time, density, cell morphology, and thermal properties. The composites were synthesized with polyadipatediol-cloisite30B composite (f=2.0), polyether-polyol (f=4.6), polymeric 4,4-diphenyl methane diisocyanate (f=2.5), and D-580 (phenyl polyoxyalkenyl phosphate). As a blowing agent, cyclopentane and distilled water were used at various concentrations of D-580 from 0 to 2.81 wt%. The rise times of PUF/Closite30B/Phosphate composites blown with distilled water were faster than those blown with cyclopentane by 30%. The composites blown with cyclopentane had spherical-shape cells and the cell diameter was decreased with increasing D-580 wt%. While $T_g$ of the composites blown with cyclopentane linearly decreased with increasing the D-580 content, the $T_g$ of the composites blown with distilled water increased with the D-580 content. All PUF/Closite30B/Phosphate composites began to decompose from $250^{\circ}C$. The composites blown with cyclopentane showed the second thermal decomposition at temperatures higher than $500^{\circ}C$. The thermal stability of all composites increased with the D-580 content. The effect of D-580 on the thermal stability of the composites was measured higher at the composites blown with distilled water.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.401-409
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• 2013

BBiodegradable polymers have attracted great attention because of the increased environmental pollution by waste plastics. In this study, PLA (polylactic acid)/Clay-20 (Cloisite 20) and PLA (polylactic acid)/PBS (poly(butylene succinate)/Clay-20 (Cloisite 20) nanocomposites were manufactured in a twin-screw extruder. Specimens for mechanical properties of PLA/Clay-20 and PLA/PBS (90/10)/Clay-20 nanocomposites were prepared by injection molding. Thermal, mechanical, morphological and raman spectral properties of two nanocomposites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile tester, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and raman-microscope spectrophotometer, respectively. In addition, hydrolytic degradation properties of two nanocomposites were investigated by hydrolytic degradation test. It was confirmed that the crystallinity of PLA/Clay-20 and PLA/PBS/Clay-20 nanocomposite was increased with increasing Clay-20 content and the Clay-20 is miscible with PLA and PLA/PBS resin from DSC and SEM results. Tensile strength of two nanocomposites was decreased, but thier elongation, impact strength, tensile modulus and flexural modulus were increased with an increase of Clay-20 content. The impact strength of PLA/Clay-20 and PLA/PBS/Clay-20 nanocomposites with 5 wt% of Clay-20 content was increased above twice than that of pure PLA and PLA/PBS (90/10). The hydrolytic degradation rate of PLA/Clay-20 nanocomposite with 3 wt% of Clay-20 content was accelerated about twice than that of pure PLA. The reason is that degradation may occur in the PLA and Clay-20 interface easily because of hydrophilic property of organic Clay-20. It was confirmed that a proper amount of Clay-20 can improve the mechanical properties of PLA and can control biodegradable property of PLA.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2009

Nanohybrid based on environmentally friendly and biodegradable polymer, poly propylene carbonate (PPC) and cloisite 20B (PPC/C-20B) have been synthesized by solution blending method and their morphology, thermal and water absorption properties have been evaluated. The structure of PPC/C-20B nanohybrid was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thermal property of PPC and PPC/C-20B nanohybrid were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC). The experimental results demonstrated that nanohybrid showed the highest thermal stability in TGA and DSC. TGA tests revealed that the thermal decomposition temperature ($T_{d50%}$) of the nanohybrid increased significantly, being $23^{\circ}C$ higher than that of pure PPC while DSC measurements indicated that the introduction of 5 mass% of clay increased the glass transition temperature from 21 to $30^{\circ}C$. Further the water absorption capacity of the PPC was significantly decreased by the incorporation of clay. Water absorption cause degradation of the coating by the moistures and affect the physical and mechanical performance. This result indicates that organic modifiers have effect on thermal and water absorption capacity of PPC and are of importance for the practical process and application of PPC.

• 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.32 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 2008

High impact polystyrene (HIPS) nanocomposites with organically modified montmorillonite (organoclay) via in situ polymerization were synthesized, and the effects of organoclay incorporation on material properties were investigated. Organoclays having a reactive group, vinylbenzyltrimethyl clay (VBC) and octadecylvinylbenzyldimethyl clay (ODVC), were prepared by the ion-exchange reactions of sodium montmorillonite with vinylbenzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (VBTMAC) and octadecylvinylbenzyldimethyl ammonium bromide (ODVBDAB), respectively, and a commercial organoclay, $Cloisite^{(R)}$ 10A(C10A), was used for comparison. It was confirmed that the X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak of the nanocomposites prepared by ODVC disappeared, which indicates the exfoliation of silicate layers. On the contrary, the XRD peak of the nanocomposites prepared by C10A shifted to lower angle, indicative of the intercalation of polymer chains into silicate layers. Rheological properties such as storage modulus and complex viscosity increased with increasing organoclay.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.271-276
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• 2005

Polypropylene (PP)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing methods. MMT modified by dimethyl hydrogenated tallow 2-ethylhexyl ammonium (Cloisite 15A) was used. Polyolefine oligomer with telechelic OH groups was used as a compatibilizer. The degree of dispersion of MMT in the nanocomposites was measured by X-ray diffractometer and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. MMT was well exfoliated when the contents of compatibilizer was 25 phr. The thermal stability that observed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) increased with the contents of MMT increased up to 5 phr. The complex viscosities and storage moduli of PP nanocomposites enhanced as the contents of compatibilizer decreased and those of MMT increased.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.490-494
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• 2011

Nanocomposites of blends of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and polyamide66 (Nylon66) containing natural and organically modified montmorillonite clays (PM, $Cloisite^{(R)}$ 25A and 15A) were prepared by melt mixing. DSC results showed that the addition of clay changed the crystallization behavior of PET/Nylon66 nanocomposites. Clay C25A was observed to most significantly change the crystallization temperature than other clays in blends of PET and Nylon66, which may be caused by the difference in interaction with matrix polymers. AFM results also showed that the lowest value of surface roughness was observed for nanocomposites containing C25A indicating the smooth and relatively homogenous surface. Mechanical properties measurement showed the similar results. Contact angle was measured to study the difference in hydrophobicity. An increase in contact angle was observed for nanocomposites with C25A or C15A due to the increased hydrophobicity.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.365-379
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• 2009

Epoxy/S2-glass reinforced composites (SGRPs) infused with Cloisite 30B nanoclays were manufactured using the vacuum assisted resin infusion molding (VARIM) process. Prior to infusion, the matrix and clays were thoroughly mixed using a direct mixing technique (DMT) and a high shear mixing technique (HSMT) to ensure uniform dispersion of the nanoclays. Structures with varying clay contents (1-3 wt%) were manufactured. Both pristine and SGRP nanocomposites were then subjected to mechanical testing. For the specimens manufactured by DMT, the tensile, flexural, and compressive modulus increased with increasing the clay content. Similarly, the tensile, flexural, compressive, interlaminate shear and impact strength increased with the addition of 1 wt% clay: however the trend reversed with further increase in the clay content. Specimens manufactured by HSMT showed superior properties compared to those of nanocomposites containing 1 wt% clay produced by DMT. In order to understand these phenomena a morphological study was conducted. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs revealed that HSMT led to better dispersion and changed the nanoclay structure from orderly intercalation to disorderly intercalation giving multi-directional strength.