Hyperbranched Polymer/Clay Nanocomposites

Abstract

Nanocomposites have been prepared from a range of hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) and montmorillonite clays (MMTs) by solution processing. With high levels of exfoliation significant changes in rheological behaviour were observed. Rheological models for conventional filled polymers led to estimates of the effective particle aspect ratio. In combination with classical models for particle reinforcement, the derived parameters accounted well for the evolution of the mechanical properties of solid HBP‐based polyurethane nanocomposites.