Clay intercalation and influence on flammability and crystallization behaviors of POE‐based nanocomposites

Abstract Ethylene‐octene copolymer (POE)‐based nanocomposites were prepared from POE or maleic anhydride grafted POE with organo‐modified montmorillonite (OMT) using melt blending technique. Their morphology, flammability, and crystallization behavior were investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cone calorimeter, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). XRD and TEM studies confirmed the intercalation of clay layers within the POE matrix whereas the exfoliation throughout the maleated POE matrix. Cone calorimetry results exhibited that the reduction in heat release rate of exfoliated maleated‐POE/OMT nanocomposite was greater than that of intercalated POE/OMT nanocomposite. The DSC results suggested that the nonisothermal kinetics crystallization of the exfoliated nanocomposite corresponded to tridimensional growth with heterogeneous nucleation. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers