The Effect of Gel and Pressure Induced Flow (PIF) Processing Conditions on the Dispersion and Intercalation of MMT Nanoclay in UHMWPE/ Montmorillonite (MMT) Clay Based Nanocomposite Sheets

Abstract

The paper analyzes the effect of gel and pressure induced flow processing on the dispersion and intercalation of MMT nanoparticles. To reach our objective, we conducted various experiments for the preparation of dispersed nanoclay in nanocomposite sheets based on the preparation of UHMWPE gel sheet with MMT through the use of paraffin oil (solvent) and then removed the solvent utilizing PIF and extraction processes. The analysis of the UHMWPE microstructure sheet by X-Ray diffraction (XRD); transmission electron microscopy (TEM); Scanning electron microscope (SEM); and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was done as well. Our results highlight that good dispersion, partial exfoliation and full intercalation of MMT nanoparticle effective; that intercalated nanocomposites and the different layers correspond to flexibility chains and the presence of multi-peaks are due to the processing of different materials. The images obtained by SEM present a gel-like layers structure of UHMWPE/MMT sheet is the consequence of the deformation and rearrangement of the gel sheets during PIF process.