Search

PA‐6/PVB blends and related nanocomposites with organoclay were prepared via melt‐processing and structure‐property relationships were comprehensively investigated. The SEM observations showed that blend composition and organoclay content play significant roles in the development of morphology. The differential scanning calorimetry results revealed occurrence of fractionated crystallization in the blends due to development of co‐continuous morphology. In contrast, the degree of fractionated crystallization decreased in the nanocomposites owing to role of the nanoclay as heterogeneous nucleating agent. It was found that there is an interesting relationship between morphology development and dynamic mechanical properties of the blends. Furthermore, the effects of the morphology development and nanoclay on the viscoelastic behavior of the nanocomposites were synergistic and/or counteracting depending on the Cloisite 30B content. The PA‐6/PVB blends with co‐continuous morphology showed outstanding toughness. In addition, the PA‐6/PVB50 blend with low nanoclay concentration exhibited high impact strength, which was originated from low interparticle distance between PVB domains in the matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E242–E254, 2019. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites of polyvinylchloride (PVC) with single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were prepared by plastisol curing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that appropriate dispersion of the nanotubes was achieved. The mechanical properties showed that SWCNT improved the Young's modulus and tensile strength of the PVC. The composites have higher elongation at break and toughness as well. By comparing the mechanical properties of the composites, it is found that there is a critical SWCNT loading (about 1 wt%) below which the tensile properties increase with increasing nanofiller concentration. For the composites containing 0.25-0.75 wt% of SWCNT, this situation was observed, whereas for a sample with 1 wt% SWCNT, the mechanical properties decreased due to the agglomeration of the nanotubes. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the SWCNT increased T5%, T10%, T50%, Tonset, and Tmax and decreased weight loss in the degradation process of the PVC. In addition, by adding SWCNT to the polymer, residual mass at 600°C increased significantly. These results are advantages for the applications of the polymer in which high mechanical properties, including high tensile modulus and toughness, and good thermal properties are needed. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:128-133, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]