Synthesis and characterization of polyethylene-octene elastomer/clay/biodegradable starch nanocomposites
Synthesis and Characterization of Polyethylene-Octene Elastomer/Clay/Biodegradable Starch Nanocomposites Hsin-Tzu Liao, Chin-San Wu Department of Biochemical Engineering and Graduate Institute of Environmental Polymer Materials, Kao YuanInstitute of Technology, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan 82101, Republic of China
Received 20 April 2004; accepted 10 December 2004DOI 10.1002/app.21763Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). ABSTRACT:
The aim of this work is the production of
g-AA chains to intercalate into clay layers. Based on consid-
new nanocomposites from metallocene polyethylene-octene
eration of thermal and mechanical properties, it is also found
elastomer (POE), montmorillonite and biodegradable starch
that 12 wt % of clay content is optimal for preparation of
by means of a melt blending method. Characterizations of
POE-g-AA/clay nanocomposites. The new partly biodegrad-
clay, modified clay, POE, POE-g-AA, and the hybrids pro-
able POE-g-AA/clay/starch hybrid could obviously im-
duced from polymer, clay, and/or starch were performed by
prove the elongation and the tensile strength at break of the
X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform in-
POE-g-AA/starch hybrid since the former can give the
frared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, differential scanning calo-
smaller starch phase size and nanoscale dispersion of silicate
rimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry analyzer (TGA), scanning
layers in the polymer matrix. The nanocomposites produced
electron microscope (SEM), and Instron mechanical tester.
from our laboratory can provide a stable tensile strength at
As to the results, organophilic clay can be well dispersed
break when the starch content is up to 40 wt %. 2005 Wiley
into acrylic acid grafted polyethylene-octene elastomer
Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 397– 404, 2005
(POE-g-AA) in nanoscale sizes since cetyl pyridium chlorideis partially compatible with POE-g-AA and allows POE-
Key words: polyethylene; octane; clay; surfactant INTRODUCTION
clay hybrids has been studied by Yano and col-leagues.18 In their study, hectrite, saponite, montmo-
Inorganic clay minerals, such as montmorillonite and
rillonite, and synthetic mica were used as clay miner-
hectrite, have been widely used as reinforcement ma-terials for polymers due to their nanoscale size and
als, and the results showed that the longer the length
intercalation properties.1–3 In recent years, polymer/
of clay mineral was, the more effectively properties of
silicate hybrid nanocomposites have been of consider-
able interest as an effective method to develop new
Polyethylene is one of the most widely used poly-
composite materials. There are two commercially at-
olefin polymers, but its use is restricted in certain
tractive approaches, in situ polymerization and melt
applications by its low melting point, biodegradabil-
exfoliation, for preparing polymer/clay nanocompos-
ity, stability in hydrocarbons, and a tendency to crack
ites. The first method has been used for preparation of
when stressed. Research on graft reaction, crosslink-
nylon 6-clay hybrid, and the results showed that
ing reaction, and blending with inorganic fillers for
strength, modulus, and heat distortion temperature of
polyethylene, to mitigate its disadvantages, have been
virgin nylon 6 could be increased markedly.4–7 The
extensively investigated for many years. Recently, the
melt intercalation method was first demonstrated by
metallocene based polyethylene-octene elastomer
Vaia and coworkers,2 and then it became a main-
(POE), which is developed using a metallocene cata-
stream for the preparation of polymer/clay nanocom-
lyst by Dow and Exxon, has received much attention
posites without in situ interactive polymerization, es-
due to its unique uniform distribution of comonomer
pecially for the case of polyolefin-based nanocompos-
content and narrow molecular weight distribution.19,20
It seems that study on synthesis and characterization
preparation of polypropylene/clay and polyethylene/
of POE/clay nanocomposites using the melt exfolia-
clay nanocomposites.10–17 The effect of size and type
tion method has not been found in our literature sur-
of the clay minerals to the properties of polyimide/
vey, though researches of PE/clay and PP/clay nano-composites have been proposed in the past.
Since POE does not include any polar groups in its
Correspondence to: H.-T. Liao (htliaw@cc.kyit.edu.tw).
backbone, it is thought that homogeneous dispersionof the hydrophilic clay minerals in the hydrophobic
Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 97, 397–404 (2005) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
POE matrix is not realized. In general, the clay is
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