PMSE 531 |
| Polymer/clay nanocomposites have gained great interest in many years due to their high strength, thermal stability and enhanced barrier properties compared to pristine polymers. In the present study, polyimide (PI)/clay nanocomposites were prepared using a "slurry-compounding" method with a reduced amount of organic modifier (< 5 wt%). The resulting PI/clay nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to determine the morphology and thermo-mechanical properties. XRD and TEM analysis showed more exfoliated structure at PI/2.5 wt% clay and observed the degree of exfoliation in PI/5 wt% is not as good as PI/2.5 wt%. Relaxation and the interaction between clay and polymer matrix were identified by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Solid state 1H-NMR confirmed the better quality of clay dispersion in PI/2.5 wt% clay as compared to PI/5 wt% clay. 13C-cross polarization magic-angle (CPMAS) spectroscopy and XPS studies showed that the interaction in PI/2.5 wt% clay is much stronger than that in PI/5 wt% clay. |
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New Concepts in Polymeric Materials
1:30 PM-4:45 PM, Thursday, August 23, 2007 Westin Boston Waterfront -- Grand Ballroom D, Oral
Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering |