Improvement in tensile properties of PVC-montmorillonite nanocomposites through controlled uniaxial stretching

Abstract

In this paper we present the results exhibiting an improvement in the tensile properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-montmorillonite nanocomposites through uniaxial stretching. The clay was dispersed in PVC matrix with the help of dodecylamine. PVC-montmorillonite nanocomposites films containing varying amounts of clay (0-5%) were produced through solution elution technique. The films were stretched uniaxially at a constant temperature of 80 °C in three different steps using controlled loads. X-ray diffraction and stress-strain curves were obtained for both unstretched and stretched films in order to determine the improvement in various properties. The controlled uniaxial stretching of films close to the softening temperature of PVC has resulted in enhancement in the degree of crystallinity in the nanocomposites. This improvement in the structural order has also imparted increase in tensile strength and Young's modulus of the nanocomposite films. © Indian Academy of Sciences.