Effect of Organoclay on the Morphology andProperties of Poly(propylene)/Poly[(butylenesuccinate)-co-adipate] Blends

The effect of organically modified clay on the morphology and properties of poly(propylene)(PP) and poly[(butylene succinate)-co-adipate] (PBSA) blends is studied. Virgin and organoclaymodified blends were prepared by melt-mixing of PP, PBSA and organoclay in a batch-mixer at1908C. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed a significant change in morphology ofPP/PBSA blend in the presence of organoclay. The state of dispersion of silicate layers in theblend matrix was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopicobservations. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed substantial improvement in flexuralstorage modulus of organoclay-modified blends withrespect to the neat polymer matrices or unmodified blends.Tensile properties of virgin blends also improved in thepresence of organoclay. Thermal stability of virgin blendsin air atmosphere dramatically improved after modifi-cation with organoclay. The effect of organoclay on themelt-state liner viscoelastic properties of virgin blends wasalso studied. The non-isothermal crystallization behaviorof homopolymers, virgin, and organoclay-modified blendswere studied by differential scanning calorimeter. Theeffect of incorporation of organoclay on the cold crystal-lization behavior of PP/PBSA blends is also reported.S. Sinha RayNational Centre for Nano-Structured Materials (NCNSM), Councilfor Scientific and Industrial Research, 1-Meiring Naude Road,Brummeria, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, Republic of South AfricaFax:þ27 12 841 2135; E-mail: RSuprakas@csir.co.zaJ. Bandyopadhyay, M. BousminaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Laval University, Sainte-Foy, Quebec G1K 7P4, CanadaE-mail: bousmina@gch.ulaval.caMacromol. Mater. Eng.2007,292,729–747ß2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, WeinheimDOI: 10.1002/mame.200700029729