POLYMER NANO COMPOSITES FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE APPLICATION

Abstract

The poor dispersion of carbon black in thermoplastic polymers provided a space for improving various properties of nanocomposites. In the present study, clay (MMT) has been introduced into carbon black/thermop last ics composites to improve the dispersion of carbon black and finally improvement in thermal or mechanical performance. Combination of clay and carbon black (CB) allows both mechanical and thermal performance to be simultaneously enhanced. The results obtained from mechanical and thermal characterization indicate that the plastic-plastic/CB/MIVIT combination enhanced the mechanical as well as thermal properties to a significant extent. Tensile strength ofdifferent blended nanocomposites system was increased by around 42.5% due to addition of nanoclay. Also, it is experienced that if two polymers are combined and used as matrix material then the plastic-plastic interaction improves the tensile strength by 52% as compared to single polymer matrix nanocomposites. A significant improvement of 22% was achieved in thermal stability of PMMA composite due to addition of carbon black. However, in case of p last ic-sem icrystall ine/C B composition, a significant improvement in mechanical strength (113%) is noticed with addition of nanoclay in these CB reinforced composites. this is due to better dispersion of CB in polymer matrix as well as the linked up structure of PBT rods due to addition of nanoclay. Also it has been noticed that neither the addition of nanoclay nor mixing up of amorphous and semicrystalline polymers have any effect on the thermal decomposition temperature of such polymer composites