Preparation of 4,4′‐diaminostilbene‐2,2′‐disulfonic acid intercalated LDH/polypropylene nanocomposites with enhanced UV absorption property

The UV absorber 4,4′‐diaminostilbene‐2,2′‐disulfonate (DASDSA) has been successfully intercalated into an inorganic host Zn ₂ Al layered double hydroxide (Zn ₂ Al‐DASDSA LDH), which is expected to lead stabilization and protection of this thermally unstable UV absorber. Using a modified solvent mixing method, polypropylene/AMO‐Zn ₂ Al‐DASDSA LDH (PP/AMO‐LDH; AMO = aqueous miscible organic treated) nanocomposites were prepared using unmodified PP at various LDH loadings of 0.2–4 wt%. The characterization data indicated that AMO‐LDH nanoparticles were evenly dispersed within the PP matrix because of the excellent compatibility between PP and the AMO‐LDH. The resistance to thermal degradation of PP/AMO LDH nanocomposites was significantly increased even with very low LDH loadings. The 50% weight loss temperature ( T _0.5 ) of PP was increased by 43°C with 4 wt% LDH. UV analysis demonstrated that adding AMO‐Zn ₂ Al‐DASDSA LDH could significantly enhance the UV absorption capacity of PP. For the enhancement of the photo‐stability of PP, the performance of AMO‐Zn ₂ Al‐DASDSA was much better than the control material Zn ₂ Al‐NO ₃ . POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1937–1947, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers