Twin‐screw compounding of poly(methyl methacrylate)/clay nanocomposites: effects of compounding temperature and matrix molecular weight

Abstract

AbstractPoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/organoclay nanocomposites prepared by melt‐compounding using a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder were intercalated nanocomposites. Commercially available PMMA resins of various molecular weights were used for comparison. The results showed an optimum compounding temperature for maximum intercalation with balanced shear and diffusion. Higher operating temperature reduced the shear mixing effect, and might have induced early degradation of the organoclay. Lower operating temperature, in contrast, reduced the mobility of the polymer molecules, which not only hampered the intercalation attempts, but also generated high torque in the extrusion. The mechanical behavior of the nanocomposites was studied. The tensile modulus, storage modulus and glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites increased with increasing clay content; however, an associated decrease in strength and strain at break was also observed. The notched impact strength also showed a slight decrease with clay content. Nanocomposites based on the lower molecular weight PMMA yielded more significant improvement in mechanical and thermal properties at the same clay content. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry