Mechanical Properties of PP/Clay Nanocomposiets Prepared by Melt Blending

Mechanical properties are important parameters in preparation of nanocomposites. Analyzing the trends on mechanical properties gives information about the effect of compatibilizing agent, nanoclays, and processing method. MA and GMA have higher compatibilizing effect than AA because of their different polarity promoting a better mechanical performance specially in Young,s modulus and impact strength and tensile strength and produce a less drastic reduction of the deformation properties. addition of clay to pp improves the tensile modulus and tensile strength, but reduces the elongation at break, regardless of the coupling agent used. In pp/clay, nanocomposites prepared with cloisite 15A and PP-g-MA, tensile strength is decreased, while Young,s modulus is increased.The solvent resistant of these nanocomposites decreased, when clay loading increased. In pp/clay nanocomposites prepared with oligomerically modifiedclay, this clay has plasticising effect on the polymers that the tensile strength is slightly decreased compared with the virgin polymers, while Young,s modulus is slightly increased.It is worth nothing that the elongation at break for most nanocomposites does not drop as severely as usually seen with the typical organically modified clay.