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Refining of Nanostructure of Polypropylene/Nanoclay Composite Via Optimization of Compatibilizer and Masterbatch

Jalili, Negin Sadat | 2019

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 51731 (07)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Materials Science and Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Bagheri, Reza
  7. Abstract:
  8. Polypropylene (PP) is a fast growing polymer, particularly in automotive industry, where PP compounds have replaced many different parts made of conventional materials. In the first step, PP-g-MA, as compatibilizer, was synthesized. Two kinds of polypropylenes including a homo- and a block co-polymer were incorporated for this goal. Characterizations via titration and FTIR tests revealed higher degree of grafting reaction when homo-polymer was used for synthesizing PP-g-MA. In the next step, nanocomposites containing 3 wt% nanoclay with three different PP-g-MA/nanoclay ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1were made using a co-rotating twin screw extruder. Tensile, impact and XRD tests were performed to evaluate the nanostructure and engineering properties of the samples. Based on the results, composition containing PP-g-MA/nanoclay ratio of 2:1 with 7.69% improvement in Young’s Modulus was selected for the next step of the research. Finally five nanocomposite samples with identical composition were made in two steps. A masterbatch containing 15 wt% nanoclay was made first and then, it was diluted with PP to reduce the nanoclay content to 3 wt%. All samples contained 6 wt% PP-g-MA, but the method of addition of compatibilizer was different. In one sample, the whole compatibilizer was added into the masterbatch. In another sample, the entire PP-g-MA was added in the second stage of compounding. In the other three samples, addition of compatibilizer was divided between the two stages of process. The results of the study showed the highest improvement of elastic modulus (24.26%) was obtained when the majority of the compatibilizer was added in the second step of production. This was associated with the best dispersion of nanoclay platelets in the PP matrix
  9. Keywords:
  10. Nanocomposite ; Polypropylene ; Nanoclay ; Compatibilizer ; Nanostructure

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