Investigation of Mechanical Properties of PP/Clay Nanocomposites Based on Network Cross-Linked Compatibilizers

Nanocomposites of polypropylene with organically modified clay were obtained on a corotating extruder. The modification of clay was done by swelling with a polyetherdiamine which undergoes cross-linking reaction with maleated polypropylene. The effect of clay concentration and of thermal treatment was studied from a morphological and mechanical point of view. The structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic-mechanical thermal analyses (DMTA). Nanocomposites with 1 and 2 wt-% silicate concentration presented improvement in mechanical properties. The improvements observed were: 20% increase in tensile strength, 21% increase in Young modulus, 34% reduction in creep strain and 30% decrease in tensile strain after cyclic loading, meaning improved fatigue.