Thermal properties of nanocomposites based on polyethylene and n-heptaquinolinum modified montmorillonite

Abstract

The aim of the research was obtaining and application of smectic clay modifying agent. The organophilic clay is used as nanofiller in polymer nanocomposites [1]. A microwave-assisted reaction led to obtaining N-heptaquinolinum, which is amphiphilic compound, containing both hydrophobic (alkyl and aromatic) and hydrophilic sections in its structure [2]. N-heptaquinolinum was used as a montmorillonite clay modifying agent. Modification was carried out in formulated way [3, 4]. Modification efficiency was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and elementary analysis. Organophilic clay (Ch7) was introduced, using the extrusion method, into polyethylene matrix in different mass relations (1.5, 3 and 5 %) [3]. The structure of obtained materials was studied by means of XRD and SEM. To evaluate potential applications thermal properties of received nanocomposites were tested with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stability of PE/clay composites can be improved in the case of loading 1.5 and 5 mass%. © 2012 The Author(s).