Studies on the viscoelasticity of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene-octene)/organomontmorillonite nanocomposites

• Published in: Polymer composites Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 999 - 1006
• Main Authors: Liu, Feng, Zhong, Yu, Jiang, Chunyan, Wang, Dong, Wang, Zeng-Kun, Run, Ming-Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.06.2012; Wiley; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Glassy; Laminates; Melts; Nanocomposites; Nanostructure; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Rheometers; Storage modulus; Technology of polymers; Terephthalate; Viscoelasticity; Viscoelasticity; Polyethylene; Organic clay; Montmorillonite; Olefin copolymer; Alkyl terephthalate polymer; Ester polymer; Polymer; Creep strength; Composite material; Shear viscosity; Stress relaxation; Morphology; Ethylene copolymer; Olefin polymer; Nanocomposite; Rubber; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.22234

The viscoelasticity of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/maleinized poly(octene‐ethylene) copolymer/organomontmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites were investigated at both liquid and glassy states by using the rotational rheometer and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The viscoelasticity results suggest that OMMT has many important influences on the structure, modulus, toughness, and cold‐crystallization of the nanocomposites. The OMMT has a strip‐like sheet morphology in the polymer matrix and when OMMT content increases to 4 wt%, the physical network‐like structure begins to form in the nanocomposites. The pseudoplasticity of the melts is increased by OMMT. In addition, the complex viscosity, storage modulus, and viscous behavior of the melts are increased with increasing OMMT content. The creep resistance of the nanocomposites is improved by OMMT, and it plays an important role on reinforcing the melts. The stress relaxation of the melts suggests that the nanofillers can not only enhance the interfacial interactions of the nanocomposites but also inhibit the recovery of the polymer chain segments. At glassy state, the nanocomposites' storage modulus increases with increasing OMMT content. As glass transition occurs, the loss factor and loss modulus suggest that OMMT toughens the polymer matrix. At rubber‐elastic state, OMMT depresses the cold‐crystallization of the polymer matrix due to its limitation effect on the motion of molecular chains. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers