Morphology and properties of polypropylene/ethylene-octene copolymer/clay nanocomposites with double compatibilizers

The influence of nanoclay on the morphology and properties of the polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-octene block copolymer (EOC) blend with double compatibilizers of maleated PP (PP-g-MA) and maleated EOC (EOC-g-MA) was investigated and compared with the nanocomposites containing either PP-g-MA or EOC-g-MA as a compatibilizer. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were utilized for morphological characterization in conjunction with dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, mechanical testing, and rheological evaluation of these nanocomposites. The results suggested that in the nanocomposite including both compatibilizers of PP-g-MA and EOC-g-MA, clay was dispersed as a mixed structure of intercalation and exfoliation in both phases of the polymer blend. Comparing the mechanical properties of the studied nanocomposite with nanocomposites of PP/EOC/PP-g-MA/clay and PP/EOC/EOC-g-MA/clay also indicated that the nanocomposite containing mixed compatibilizers displayed higher tensile modulus, tensile strength, and complex viscosity because of the better dispersion of clay in both phases. The results also confirmed the increased structural stability and reduced dispersed phase size of PP/EOC/PP-g-MA/EOC-g-MA blend in the presence of clay that proposed the compatibilization role of clay in this nanocomposite.