Surface Modification of Sodium Montmorillonite Nanoclay by Plasma Polymerization and Its Effect on the Properties of Polystyrene Nanocomposites. (23rd April 2018) - Narro-Céspedes, Rosa Idalia
Abstract : Sodium montmorillonite nanoclay (Na + -MMT) was modified by plasma polymerization with methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) as monomers and was denominated as Na + -MMT/MMA and Na + -MMT/St, respectively. This plasma modified nanoclay was used as reinforcement for polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites that were prepared by melt mixing. Pristine and modified Na + -MMT nanoclay were analyzed by the dispersion in various solvents, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results confirmed a change in hydrophilicity of the modified Na + -MMT, as well as the presence of a polymeric material over its surface. The pristine PS/Na + -MMT and modified PS/Na + -MMT/MMA and PS/Na + -MMT/St nanocomposites were studied with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and TGA, as well as mechanical properties. It was found that the PS/Na + -MMT/St nanocomposites presented better thermal properties and an improvement in Young's modulus (YM) in compared to PS/Na + -MMT/MMA nanocomposites.