Edson N. Ito

Nanocompósitos de PEAD/PEBDL: avaliação da esfoliação da argila organofílica pela aplicação do modelo de Nielsen e das propriedades mecânicas, ópticas e permeabilidade

A typical high density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene (HDPE/LLDPE) blend used in flexible packaging was modified with commercial organophylic montmorilonite clay to obtain nanocomposites with superior barrier properties. Samples with 5 and 7.5% of clay were prepared under different processing conditions. Films produced from the nanocomposites were evaluated in terms of oxygen and water vapor permeation and also by X-ray diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Tensile and optical properties were also evaluated. The clay showed to be intercalated and partially exfoliated. The oxygen permeation was mainly reduced and the vapor permeation was weakly modified. The mechanical properties and transparency did not change significantly. Nielsen’s model was applied considering the relative permeability coefficient. This method was able to give an estimate of the exfoliation state of the samples, supported by the transmission electron microscopy.

Obtenção de membranas microporosas a partir de manocompósitos de poliamida 6/argila nacional. Parte 1: influência da presença da argila na morfologia das membranas

Polymeric membranes were produced from nylon 6 nanocomposites and a clay using the immersion-precipitation technique. The clay was organically modified by using a quaternary ammonium salt, Dodigen. Nanocomposites were obtained from nylon 6 with untreated clay (MMT) and treated clay (OMMT). The nanocomposites were studied by XRD and TEM. The morphological structure consisted of an exfoliated and partially exfoliated clay layers in the polymeric matrix. The membranes were produced by phase inversion method and characterized by XRD and SEM. The X-ray diffraction of the membranes confirmed the results for the nanocomposites. The SEM image of the membrane top surface showed irregular pores. As for the membranes with the nanocomposites, a larger number of better distributed pores were observed, indicating that the presence of the clay altered the membrane morphology. The cross section SEM image showed an asymmetric morphology structure, comprising two layers, namely a skin with small and closed pores, and a porous layer with large, uniformly distributed pores.

Efeito Payne em nanocompósitos de NBR com montmorilonita organofílica

In this work the Payne effect was evaluated as a measure of the filler-filler and filler-polymer interactions in nanocomposites of organomontmorillonite (MMTorg) on acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber (NBR) by using the Rubber Process Analyzer - RPA 2000. The nanocomposites of NBR and MMTorg were prepared on a Berstorff two-roll mill and the evaluation of the Payne effect was carried out in unvulcanized pure gum and varying the MMTorg content from 5, 10, 15 and 20 phr. The composition with 5 phr of MMTorg showed the best filler-polymer interaction as a consequence of the smaller amount of agglomerates of the filler in the elastomeric matrix.

Cashew tree wood flour activated with cashew nut shell liquid for the production of functionalized composites

Abstract This work is aimed at the one-step chemical modification of the surface of cashew wood flour particles using the technical grade cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). The goal is to develop an alternative way to introduce chemically active sites on the surface of the particles, which allows the addition of new functionalities to such particles. The influence of time and temperature and catalyst on the substitution of lignocellulosic hydroxyls with cardanol/cardol urethane derivatives was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and contact angle measurements. The mechanical behavior of the modified particles in polypropylene composites was also evaluated by mechanical testing and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The FTIR, thermogravimetry, and contact angle results indicated changes on the particle surface, and the mechanical and thermomechanical behavior of the mercerized and modified particles in the composites was found to be similar. These results point that the CNSL approach is a viable way to chemically modify cashew wood flour particle surfaces, while maintaining their properties.

Organophilization of a Brazilian Mg-montmorillonite without prior sodium activation

Abstract The use of Mg-montmorillonite in the production of organoclay without sodium activation was investigated. For this purpose, organophilization experiments were carried out by varying the concentration of two surfactants: hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA+) and dodecyltrimethylammonium( DTMA+) ions. These surfactantswere used at concentrations 0.7, 1.0 and 1.5 times that of the cation exchange capacity (62.6 meq/100 g) of the clay, with a reaction time of 8 h at temperatures of 25 and 80°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the intercalation for both in natura and activated samples. The Fourier-transforminfrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and XRD results showed that the ratio of gauche/trans conformers decreased with increased basal spacing. The results of thermodifferential and thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/DTG) confirmed the thermal stability of the organoclay up to 200°C, permitting the use of suchmaterial in the synthesis of polymer/clay nanocomposites obtained by the melt blending. Thus, Mg-montmorillonite can be intercalated with alkylammonium ions without prior Na-activation to form organoclays. The possibility of using natural (non-activated) Mg-montmorillonite represents a significant difference in terms of processing cost in comparison with existing Ca-montmorillonite in Brazil or even with imported bentonites that require Na-activation during beneficiation.

Organoclay nanocomposites of post-industrial waste poly(butylene terephthalate) from automotive parts

Polymeric nanocomposites are novel materials of huge interest owing to their favourable cost/performance ratio with low amount of nanofillers, improved thermal resistance, flame retardancy and mechanical properties in relation to their matrices. In this work, composites based on post-industrial waste or primary recycled poly(butylene terephthalate) and 5 wt.% of organic modified montmorillonite clays were melt compounded using a twin-screw extruder. A 22 factorial experimental design was used to study the compounding and processing variables: Organic modified montmorillonite with one or two hydrogenated tallow (initial basal spacing) and screw speed of the extruder. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy suggest that a partial exfoliation of the organoclay in the recycled poly(butylene terephthalate) matrix was achieved for organic modified montmorillonite with lower initial basal spacing. On the other hand, formulations containing organic modified montmorillonite with higher initial basal spacing showed only intercalated structure. The recycled poly(butylene terephthalate)–organic modified montmorillonite nanocomposites did not drip flaming material during burning tests. Storage of dynamic-mechanical, tensile and flexural moduli of the recycled poly(butylene terephthalate)–organic modified montmorillonite were improved when compared with both virgin and recycled poly(butylene terephthalate)s, mainly for nanocomposites formulated at a lower initial basal spacing organoclay. This could be related to a better diffusion of polymer into organic modified montmorillonite layers compared with the higher initial basal spacing organoclay. The improvements on the physical properties of recycled poly(butylene terephthalate) showed the feasibility to add value to primary recycled engineering thermoplastics with a very small amount of organic modified montmorillonite.

Payne effect in NBR nanocomposites with organofilic montmorillonite

In this work the Payne effect was evaluated as a measure of the filler-filler and filler-polymer interactions in nanocomposites of organomontmorillonite (MMTorg) on acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber (NBR) by using the Rubber Process Analyzer – RPA 2000. The nanocomposites of NBR and MMTorg were prepared on a Berstorff two-roll mill and the evaluation of the Payne effect was carried out in unvulcanized pure gum and varying the MMTorg content from 5, 10, 15 and 20 phr. The composition with 5 phr of MMTorg showed the best filler-polymer interaction as a consequence of the smaller amount of agglomerates of the filler in the elastomeric matrix.