Thermal Characteristics of Nanostructured Filler-Incorporated Polyvinylester Nanocomposites

The aim of the present investigation is to probe the influence of organically modified layered silicates (o-montmorilonite, o-MMT) content on mechanical and thermal behaviors of vinyl ester/o-MMT (organoclays) nanocomposites. Polyvinyl ester nanocomposites were synthesized with o-MMT by in-situ polymerization technique. The prepared vinyl ester/o-MMT composites have been characterized for mechanical properties such as tensile properties and impact strength. Thermal characteristics of the vinyl ester/o-MMT nanocomposites were evaluated by using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA). The thermal degradation kinetic parameters such as activation energy (Ea) of nanocomposites were evaluated by using three mathematical models, namely Horowitz-Metzger, Coats-Redfern and Broido's methods.