Development of an Exfoliated Nanocomposite Prepared by Vinyl Acetate and Organic Montmorillonite: Structure, Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Thermal Degradation

Using in-situ emulsion polymerization, the exfoliated nanocomposites were prepared from vinyl acetate (VAc) and organic montmorillonite (OMMT) through five different experimental conditions. The different experimental conditions and OMMT had little effect on the structure of PVAc–OMMT, but significant effect on the dynamic mechanical properties. They produced a combined effect on the modulus, loss tangent and glass transition temperature (T g). OMMT could lower T g of PVAc, and improved PVAc's low temperature resistance. PVAc and PVAc–OMMT all were homogeneous amorphous linear polymers and they all displayed cold crystallization. The different experimental conditions and OMMT had some effects on the thermal degradation. The thermal degradation process was found to consist of eight phases, and those of PVAc and PVAc–OMMT were similar. OMMT had no obvious effect on the thermal degradation temperature, but mainly delayed the thermal degradation process.