Polyvinyl Chloride/Organoclay Nanocomposites: Effects of Filler Loading and Maleic Anhydride

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/organoclay nanocomposites were melt compounded in an internal mixer, Haake Rheometer, at 170°C and 50 rpm rotor speed. Effects of organoclay loading (from 2 to 10 phr — parts per hundred of resin) and maleic anhydride (MAH), as a compatibilizer, on the tensile properties, thermal degradation, and morphology were investigated. Results indicate that the presence of organoclay increases the tensile properties and resistance towards thermal degradation. The optimum organoclay loading was achieved at 2 phr. The intercalated/partially exfoliated structure affects the properties of PVC/organoclay nanocomposites as evidenced from the morphological and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The addition of MAH had improved the tensile properties and thermal degradation as a result of better filler-matrix interaction. More intercalation/ partial exfoliation of the organoclay was formed in the PVC matrix in the presence of MAH.