• Major, Ian
• Lew, C. Y.
• Murphy, W. R.
• Mcnally, G. M.

Abstract

<p>This is a communication article describing a novel and simple approach to optimise the exfoliation and dispersion of organoclay layered-silicate in the extrusion processing of polymer nanocomposites. A range of HDPE nanocomposites were processed by configuring the extrusion temperature gradient in a single-screw compounder. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis showed that the degree of organoclay exfoliation, which is directly associated with the various property improvement in nanocomposites, was influenced by the extrusion temperature gradient. These nanocomposites exhibited significant difference in their rheological flow characteristic and mechanical properties, owing to the difference in the resultant organoclay structures. Regardless of the level of organoclay exfoliation, all the nanocomposites exhibited better processability and improved mechanical properties compared to the virgin HDPE. The elongation at break of all the nanocomposites was considerably greater than the virgin HDPE despite recording an increase in crystallinity.</p>

Topics

• nanocomposite
• impedance spectroscopy
• dispersion
• polymer
• extrusion
• layered
• crystallinity
• wide-angle X-ray diffraction