Morphology of nanocomposites from ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers

Abstract

New nanocomposltes have been prepared by melt-compounding from commercial ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers (EAA) of different molar mass, molecular structure (branched or linear) and AA concentration, and a Zn-ionomer, with three commercial clays containing different proportions of the same organic modifier (dimethyldi(hydrogenated tallow)ammonium ion). Their morphology has been preliminarily investigated by X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The nanocomposites showed disordered intercalated morphology, with an expansion of the average gallery height, which appears to depend quite strongly on the molecular architecture of the EAA, whereas the other investigated variables, including the excess of surfactant used to organically modify the silicate, have negligible effect.