Abstract
This paper presents a new modification method to modify the surface of nanoclay (Na-MMT) to increase its d-spacing using Aminopropylisooctyl Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (AP-POSS) and the fabrication of Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposite through solution intercalation technique. The structure and morphology of pure nanoclay, modified nanoclay (POSS-MMT) and the PCL nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). XRD revealed that the d-spacing of the POSS-MMT is increased by 0.64 nm as compared to pure nanoclay. FTIR and FESEM results also showed that AP-POSS were well dispersed and intercalated throughout the interlayer space of Na-MMT. An exfoliated structure was also observed for PCL/POSS-MMT nanocomposite. Thermal properties of the nanocomposite were investigated using Thermal Gravimetry Analysis (TGA) which recorded highest degradation temperature for PCL/POSS-MMT 1% nanocomposite which is 394.1°C at 50% weight loss (T50%) but a decrease in degradation temperature when POSS-MMT content is increased and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis which showed highest melting and crystallization temperature for PCL/POSS-MMT 5% nanocomposite which is 56.6°C and 32.7°C respectively whereas a decrease in degree of crystallinity for PCL/POSS-MMT nanocomposite as compared to PCL/Na-MMT nanocomposite. This study affords an efficient modification method to obtain organoclay with larger interlayer d-spacing to enhance the properties of polymer nanocomposite.
Highlights
Plastics are ideal for many applications such as in packaging, building materials and commodities but it can lead to waste disposal problems
It can be clearly observed that there is a shift of characteristic reflections to lower angle in POSS-MMT compared to Na-MMT
This result corresponds to the study conducted by Zhao et al (2009) [8] where the dspacing increased from 0.96 nm for Na-MMT to 1.25 nm for POSS-MMT
Summary
Plastics are ideal for many applications such as in packaging, building materials and commodities but it can lead to waste disposal problems. Accumulation of plastic at the end of its life cycle had increased drastically on the earth causing serious pollution problems. This motivated many researchers to conduct studies to produce a biodegradable and environmental friendly polymer nanocomposite to produce plastics. PCL have good commercial potential for plastics but their low thermal and mechanical properties for further processing restrict their use in a wide range of applications [2]. These properties can be improved through the preparation of PCL nanocomposite by incorporating nanofiller such as nanoclay
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call