Polymer/layered silicate nanocohybrids(PLSNs) are new types of materials, based on clays usually rendering hydrophobic property through ion exchange of the sodium interlayer cation with an onium cation. It could be prepared from various synthetic ro...
Polymer/layered silicate nanocohybrids(PLSNs) are new types of materials, based on clays usually rendering hydrophobic property through ion exchange of the sodium interlayer cation with an onium cation. It could be prepared from various synthetic routes comprising exfoliation adsorption, in situ intercalative polymerization and melt intercalation.
The whole ranges of polymers are being used, i.e. thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers as a matrix. Two types of structures may be obtained, namely the intercalated nanohybrids of which the polymer chains are sandwiched in between silicate layers and the exfoliate nanohybridtes of which the separated, individual silicate layers are more or less uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. This new family of materials exhibits enhanced properties at a very low filler level, usually lower than 5wt.% , such as increased mechanical properties, an increase in thermal stability and gas barrier properties and good flame retardancy. Gas permeability through the PLSNs films decreased due to the increased tortuosity made by intercalation or exfoliation of clay in the polymer.
In this study, polymer-clay hybrid films were prepared by melt intercalation method with internal mixer with NBR, ionomer, and SEBS(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) as polymer and Cloisite?Na+, Cloisite?15A, Cloisite?20A, Cloisite?30B of Southern Clay Product as clay.
Clay was intercalated or exfoliated by the polymer and confirmed by X-ray diffraction method. D-spacing of the characteristic peak from MMT plate in WAXD was moved and diminished.
Mechanical and thermal properties of the NBR-clay hybrid membranes were not changed with clay content. Mechanical and thermal properties of ionomer-clay hybrid and SEBS-clay hybrid membranes increased with clay . The clay acts as a heat barrier and assists in the formation of char after thermal decomposition as well.
Gas permeability of O2, CO2 and N2 of polymer-clay hybrid films was investigated. Gas permeability of hybrid membranes decreased in the order of CO2 > O2 > N2. The gas barrier property of hybrids with clay are better than that of pure polymers, hybrids with CloisiteⓇ 15A as clay showed the best barrier property among the hybridses. So gas permeability through the polymer-clay hybrid films decreased due to the increased tortuosity made by intercalation of clay in polymer.