Effect of O-MMT content on properties of poly (Vinyl chloride)/poly (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) blends

Abstract

In this study, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/poly(acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) (ASA)/ organophilic montmorillonite (o-MMT) nanocomposites were prepared and the effects of o-MMT content on the properties of PVC/ASA blends were investigated. The thermal stability, mechanical properties and water absorption percentages of the nanocomposites were studied. Surface morphology studies of the o-MMT containing blends were also performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) test results showed that o-MMT inclusion enhanced the thermal stability of PVC/ASA/o-MMT nanocomposites and the decomposition temperature at 50% weight loss (Td50) increased by 7.5 ˚C when the o-MMT content was 10 wt%. The tensile strength value of the neat blend was obtained as 32.51 MPa and found to increase as 36.01 MPa when the o-MMT content was 6 wt% in the system. The water absorption test results demonstrated that the water-resistance of the samples enhanced as the o-MMT content increased. Moreover, PVC/ASA blends exhibited a significant increase in the contact angle by the presence of hydrophobic o-MMT. The weathering test results demonstrated that the PVC/ASA/o-MMT nanocomposite films could be used for outdoor applications without apparently losing their properties.