Abstract
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites containing nanoclay with and without compatibilizer (PMMA-g-MA) were prepared by melt blending followed by compression molding in order to investigate the rheological and flammability properties of developed nanocomposites. The rheological measurements at various temperatures and frequencies were performed using rheometer with parallel-plate geometry. The frequency sweep result revealed that storage modulus improved with the addition of nanoclay at lower frequency and gradually changed from liquid-like behavior to solid-like behavior due to the formation of percolating network structure. For all the samples, complex viscosity decreased as the temperature increased. Similarly, dynamic mechanical investigations exhibited a significant enhancement in storage modulus at lower temperature due to reinforcing effect of nanoclay. The flammability test also demonstrated that rate of burning was reduced by 37% with the addition of nanoclay.
Highlights
In recent days, polymer nanocomposites are attaining considerable interest owing to its improved mechanical property, increased heat resistance, decreased gas permeability, and flammability retardancy over the matrix polymers.[1,2,3,4] Various fillers such as inorganic nanotubes, expandable graphite, metal oxide nanoparticles, cellulose nanowhiskers, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), and clay have been used to achieve a significant improved performance.[5,6,7] Poly is an amorphous thermoplastic with excellent optical clarity, hard, good ultraviolet stability, and outstanding weathering properties
The storage modulus (E′) and tan δ versus temperature for Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and its nanocomposites measured from 25 to 150°C are illustrated in Fig. 1a and b
It is noticed that the incorporation of nanoclay into the polymer matrix leads to a considerable increase in the storage modulus of PMMA nanocomposites over pure PMMA
Summary
Polymer nanocomposites are attaining considerable interest owing to its improved mechanical property, increased heat resistance, decreased gas permeability, and flammability retardancy over the matrix polymers.[1,2,3,4] Various fillers such as inorganic nanotubes, expandable graphite, metal oxide nanoparticles, cellulose nanowhiskers, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), and clay have been used to achieve a significant improved performance.[5,6,7] Poly (methyl methacrylate) is an amorphous thermoplastic with excellent optical clarity, hard, good ultraviolet stability, and outstanding weathering properties. In this work, the influence of nanoclay and compatibilizer on the rheological behavior of PMMA nanocomposites as a function of temperature and frequency is investigated. It is noticed that the incorporation of nanoclay into the polymer matrix leads to a considerable increase in the storage modulus of PMMA nanocomposites over pure PMMA.
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