Fabrication of Maleic Anhydride and Styrene Grafted Polypropylene and Study of Its Performance as a Compatibilizer in PP/Clay Nanocomposites

Abstract

In our previous study, we investigated the performance of a PP grafted with maleic anhydride (MA) and styrene (PP-g-MA-St) as compatibilizers in PP/clay nanocomposites. We found that the incorporation of styrene prevents molecular weight reduction of the PP main chain upon high loading of a radical initiator for high graft degree of MA. The compatibilizers (PP-g-MA-St) thus obtained show good compatibilizing performance in PP/clay nanocomposites for both stiffness and toughness. In this study, we investigated the crystallization behavior of the PP-g-MA-St. In previous study, we fabricated PP-g-MA-St with high MA loading. PP-g-MA-St with high MA becomes more brittle. In this study, more tough PP-g-MA-St with reduced MA loading was prepared and the compatibilizing effect of the PP-g-MA-St thus prepared was evaluated. Izod impact of PP/clay/PP-g-MA-St nanocomposites was measured at 25 and -10 degrees C. Izod impact strength was highest at the 10 wt% of compatibilizer (PP-g-MA-St) and 0.5 phr of MA loading.