Effects of dioctyl phthalate on the properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/organically modified montmorillonite nanocomposites

The effects of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) loading on morphology and thermal and mechanical properties of the poly(vinyl chloride)/organically modified montmorillonite/DOP (PVC/O-MMT/DOP) nanocomposites are studied in this paper. Results of transmission electron microscope (TEM) indicate that O-MMT is partially intercalated and exfoliated in all PVC/O-MMT/DOP nanocomposites. It shows that the addition of DOP has no obvious influence on the dispersion of O-MMT in the PVC/O-MMT/DOP nanocomposites. Young's modulus and tensile strength of the PVC/O-MMT/DOP nanocomposites are significantly decreased as the amount of DOP is increased. The thermal degradation onset temperature and glass transition temperature (T-g) of the PVC/O-MMT/DOP nanocomposites are decreased as the amount of DOP is increased. On the other hand, the elongation at break of the PVC/O-MMT/DOP nanocomposites is increased as the amount of DOP is increased. Also, the first thermal degradation weight loss (Delta Y) of the PVC/O-MMT/DOP nanocomposites is increased as the amount of DOP is increased. While increasing DOP loading, the PVC/O-MMT/DOP nanocomposites change from a rigid product to a semirigid product and finally into a flexible product.

Automated summary

The study found that increasing the amount of DOP significantly decreases the Young's modulus and tensile strength of PVC/O-MMT/DOP nanocomposites, lowers the thermal degradation onset temperature and glass transition temperature, but increases the elongation at break and the first thermal degradation weight loss. With increasing DOP loading, the properties of the nanocomposites transition from rigid to semi-rigid, and finally to flexible.