Structure and properties of nanocomposites with a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) matrix

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), and three organically modified montmorillonites were mixed in the melt state obtaining widely dispersed nanocomposites. The parameters varied in this study were the type and amount of the organic modification and the clay content. A higher polarity of the surfactant made intercalation easier, but neither the nature (included polarity) nor the amount of surfactant influenced the dispersion level. The latter was shown directly by TEM and indirectly by the values of the modulus of elasticity. Upon mixing, a maximum interlayer distance was observed regardless of the initial interlayer distance and the nature and amount of the organoclay used. This finding was also observed in other matrices but does not appear to be a general rule. The decrease in the break properties is mainly attributed to the clay addition and the increases in the modulus of elasticity were large, in agreement with the high degree of dispersion obtained. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.