Synthesis of montmorillonite/modified graphene oxide filler and its effect on the properties of PP composites

Abstract

This work reports the easy production of hybrid organoclays composed of Cloisite 20A and modified graphene oxide (r-mGO) at different proportions, and their effect on PP composites properties. In this way, it is proposed to evaluate both, the effect of the amount of r-mGO in the hybrid organoclay, and the effect of the amount of the hybrid organoclay on the PP composites. Morphological and structural details of PP composites were followed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The thermal stability of the composites was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, tensile mechanical properties were also tested. The results show that the obtained laminated hybrid material exhibited homogeneous intercalation of Cloisite 20A and r-mGO. The interactions among the clay intercalant molecules and graphene oxide grafting makes them remain united even in a polymeric matrix, acting as a good reinforcer and resulting in a rigid polymeric composite with improved mechanical properties at low content of the filler, mainly when having small amounts of r-mGO.