Adsorption of ionic liquid onto halloysite nanotubes: Thermal and mechanical properties of heterophasic PE-PP copolymer nanocomposites

Abstract

The surface adsorption of inorganic clays with ionic liquids has attracted much attention due to improve the interaction of hydrophilic clay with the hydrophobic polymers. However, successful organic adsorption strongly depends on the characteristics of ionic liquid (anion, chain size and concentration), and the reaction conditions (as polarity of solvent). In this study, such factors were analyzed and correlated with morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. The heterophasic ethylene-propylene copolymer nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation method in a twin screw co-rotating extruder. The halloysite nanotubes (HNT) was used as filler - natural and modified with different ionic liquids. The results showed that a better distribution and dispersion of the nanoparticles was achieved in the samples with modified HNT (m-HNT) and was more significant when the ionic liquid adsorption was conducted in a less polar solvent. The thermal stability of the nanocomposites with m- HNT was higher compared to the neat CP. Additionally, the better balance in the mechanical properties was obtained by the use of the more hydrophobic ionic liquid and higher concentration with improve of 27% in the Young Modulus without loss in the impact properties at room temperature. These superior behaviors of ionic liquid adsorption products exhibit properties suitable for many industrial applications.