Nanocompósitos polipropileno/elastômero/bentonita organofílica.

Abstract

The incorporation of low levels of organoclays in polymer blends (thermoplastic polyolefin-TPOs) is an effective alternative to overcome the effect produced by the incorporation of high levels of conventional loads. That requires the merge of polymer chains between the lamellae of organoclay, which implies better mechanical properties. In this study, the nanocomposites based on thermoplastic elastomer (TPO), formed by mixing polypropylene /organoclay etileno-propileno-dieno/argila terpolymer (PP / EPDM / APO) not compatibilized and compatibilized with polypropylene modified with maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA ), were prepared by the process of melt intercalation. In the first stage of the research a bentonite clay from the Bentonit the Northeast-Campina Grande / PB was subjected to a purification treatment in order to remove organic matter, and then was modified with the organic salt bromide cethyltrimethylammonium before incorporation into the TPO. The effects of organoclay APO and the compatibilizer PP-g-MA on morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of nanocomposites of TPO / organoclay prepared with different contents of PP and EPDM, the process of melt intercalation were evaluated. The results show that composites with disordered intercalated morphology were prepared for all compositions of PP / EPDM studied and that the organoclay APO served as both a modifier and as a compatibilizer for PP / EPDM contributing to substantial increases in property them.