Preparation and mechanical properties of polypropylene-clay hybrids based on modified polypropylene and organophilic clay

Abstract

Polypropylene–clay hybrids (PPCHs) were prepared by melt blending maleic anhydride modified PP and organophilic clay. In these PPCHs the silicate layers of the clay were exfoliated and dispersed to the monolayers. The hybridization of the clay in PP was achieved with modified PP with a small amount of maleic anhydride groups. The tensile modulus of the PPCH with 5 wt % clay was 1.9 times higher than that of the matrix resin at 25°C. The dynamic storage moduli (E′) of the PPCHs were also higher than those of the modified PP. The E′ was 2.5 times higher than that of the matrix resin at 60°C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1918–1922, 2000