Mechanical, Thermal and Morphological Behaviours of Polybutylene Terephthalate/Polycarbonate Blend Nanocomposites

Abstract

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)/Polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposite blend was fabricated using melt blending technique in a twin extruder. The blend composition was optimized at PBT-PC weight ratio of 80-20. The effect of incorporation of various organically modified Montmorillonite (OMMT) and naturally occurring sodium Montmorillonite (MMT) on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the nanocomposites blend has been investigated. It was observed that the Izod impact strength, tensile strength and flexural strength demonstrated a significant increase with the increase in clay loading from 1-7 weight % due to homogeneous dispersion of clay within the blend matrix. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed an increase in thermal stability of the blend with the incorporation of nanoclay. There is also decrease in the melting temperature (Tm) and crystallisation temperature (Tc) as observed from DSC thermograms. DMA add the evidence for TGA, DSC and mechanical results. PBT - PC blend with clay exhibited featureless XRD indicative of exfoliated structure. TEM micrographs also confirm the same that the clay has exfoliated into individual layers.