Thermal stability of ammonium salts as compatibilizers in polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites

Abstract

Thermal stability of alkyl and arylalkyl quaternary ammonium cation (onium) in starting chloride salt, in organoclay obtained after exchange with montmorillonite (MMT) and after mixing of the organoclay with isoprene rubber was examined using conventional TGA and by mass spectrometry pyrolysis/GC-MS. Degradation was observed to occur at T ≥ 170 °C for organoclays and the main volatile compounds were identified as tertiary amines, chloroalkanes and alkenes. Mechanisms for their formation are proposed and the role of residual onium chloride and basic centers of layered silicate is discussed.