Dispersion of organoclays

Kgawa et al. [77], found that a dispersion of organoclay and epoxy functional mbber compounded into natural mbber resulted in an increase of modulus and tensile strength. 

Recently, Tiwari and Paul (2011 a) carried out detailed studies on the effect of PP viscosity on the dispersed phase particle size, stability of dispersed phase morphology upon annealing, phase inversion behavior, and changes in the mechanical properties of PP/PP-g-MA/MMT/PS nanocomposites prepared with different molecular weight grades of PP. PP-g-MA was added to PP to facilitate dispersion of organoclay in the nonpolar PP moreover, it also provides better reinforcement effect when PP forms the continuous phase. 

Yeh et al. (2009) also found that the nature of the dispersion of organoclay plays a vital role in controlling the size of the cell during foaming and in exfoliated nanocomposites in particular, the individual particles enable a much larger interfacial area between clay particles and the polymer matrix to be used for cell nucleation. 

Paul and Robeson discuss exfoliated clay nanocomposites in rigorous depth. They provide data on the various techniques used to characterize the structure and properties of synthesized nanocomposite materials. One such example is provided in the following an illustration of the different states of dispersion of organoclays in polymers with corresponding WAXS and TEM results. 

Figure 6.9 Illustration of different states of dispersion of organoclays in polymers with corresponding WAXS and TEM results.

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