Preparation of 4,4′-diaminostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid intercalated LDH/polypropylene nanocomposites with enhanced UV absorption property

Abstract

The UV absorber 4,4′-diaminostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate (DASDSA) has been successfully intercalated into an inorganic host Zn2Al layered double hydroxide (Zn2Al-DASDSA LDH), which is expected to lead stabilization and protection of this thermally unstable UV absorber. Using a modified solvent mixing method, polypropylene/AMO-Zn2Al-DASDSA LDH (PP/AMO-LDH; AMO = aqueous miscible organic treated) nanocomposites were prepared using unmodified PP at various LDH loadings of 0.2–4 wt%. The characterization data indicated that AMO-LDH nanoparticles were evenly dispersed within the PP matrix because of the excellent compatibility between PP and the AMO-LDH. The resistance to thermal degradation of PP/AMO LDH nanocomposites was significantly increased even with very low LDH loadings. The 50% weight loss temperature (T0.5) of PP was increased by 43°C with 4 wt% LDH. UV analysis demonstrated that adding AMO-Zn2Al-DASDSA LDH could significantly enhance the UV absorption capacity of PP. For the enhancement of the photo-stability of PP, the performance of AMO-Zn2Al-DASDSA was much better than the control material Zn2Al-NO3. POLYM. COMPOS., 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers