Nanoclay Effect on the Flow and Thermal Properties of PP/SEBS-g-MA Blend

The effect of nanoclay (Cloisite® 15A) was studied in relation to the flow behavior، mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene/maleic anhydride-g- (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) triblock copolymer (PP/SEBS(15%) -g-MA) blend. In this regard، the composites based on the blend and various amounts of nanoclay (1،3،5 wt%) were melt compounded using an internal mixer at the temperature of 190°C، rotor speed of 75rpm for 12min. The prepared samples were compression molded in a hot-press machine under the conditions of 190°C، 31 MPa pressure for 9 min to obtain the sheets in various thicknesses. The sheets were then cooled to ambient temperature with cooling water at the rate of 1. 5°C. s-1. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the structure and morphology of the samples. In addition، the mechanical and thermal properties were determined by standard methods. The results of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron photographs confirmed both exfoliated and intercalated structures in the prepared samples. There were balanced strength/toughness properties in all the prepared nanocomposites by addition of both SEBS-g-MA and clay simultaneously. The measurement of rheological properties showed that as the shear rate increased، the apparent viscosity of the samples decreased (shear thinning behavior). Gradual increase in incorporation of nanoclay also decreased the melt flow index (MFI) values. In addition، increases in nanoclay content had an insignificant effect on the thermal behavior and in that respect there were slight increases in degree of crystallinity، heat deflection temperature (HDT) as well as Vicat softening point by slight increase in temperatureThe effect of nanoclay (Cloisite® 15A) was studied in relation to the flow behavior، mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene/maleic anhydride-g- (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) triblock copolymer (PP/SEBS(15%) -g-MA) blend. In this regard، the composites based on the blend and various amounts of nanoclay (1،3،5 wt%) were melt compounded using an internal mixer at the temperature of 190°C، rotor speed of 75rpm for 12min. The prepared samples were compression molded in a hot-press machine under the conditions of 190°C، 31 MPa pressure for 9 min to obtain the sheets in various thicknesses. The sheets were then cooled to ambient temperature with cooling water at the rate of 1. 5°C. s-1. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the structure and morphology of the samples. In addition، the mechanical and thermal properties were determined by standard methods. The results of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron photographs confirmed both exfoliated and intercalated structures in the prepared samples. There were balanced strength/toughness properties in all the prepared nanocomposites by addition of both SEBS-g-MA and clay simultaneously. The measurement of rheological properties showed that as the shear rate increased، the apparent viscosity of the samples decreased (shear thinning behavior). Gradual increase in incorporation of nanoclay also decreased the melt flow index (MFI) values. In addition، increases in nanoclay content had an insignificant effect on the thermal behavior and in that respect there were slight increases in degree of crystallinity، heat deflection temperature (HDT) as well as Vicat softening point by slight increase in temperature. The aim of this work is to study effect of nanoclay (Cloisite® 15A) on the flow behavior، mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene/maleic anhydride grafted- (styrene-ethylene-butylene- styrene) triblock copolymer (PP/15%SEBS-g-MA) blend. In this regard، the composites based on the blend and various amounts of nanoclay (1،3،5 wt. %) were melt compounded using an internal mixer at the temperature of 190oC، rotor speed of 75rpm for 12min. The prepared samples were then compression molded in a hot-press machine under the conditions of 190°C، 31 MPa pressure، for 9 min to obtain the sheets in various thicknesses. Afterwards، the plates were cooled to ambient temperature with cooling water at the rate of 1. 5oC. s-1. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the structure and morphology of the samples. In addition، the mechanical and thermal properties were carried out by means of the standard methods. The results of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron photographs confirm both exfoliated and intercalated structures in the prepared samples. There is balanced strength/toughness properties in all the prepared nanocomposites via addition both SEBS-g-MA and clay simultaneously. The measurement of rheological properties show that as the shear rate increases، the apparent viscosity of the samples decreases (shear thinning behavior). Incorporation of nanoclay and increasing its content also decreases the melt flow index (MFI) values. In addition، increase in the nanoclay content have the insignificant effect on the thermal behavior so that slight increase in crystallinity temperature/degree، heat deflection temperature (HDT) as well as vicat softening point are obtained.