Preparation and thermal stability of polypropylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites

Two different methods were used to prepare polypropylene/clay nanocomposites. One was from pristine montmorillonite and a reactive compatibilizer hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (C6); the other is from different organophilic montmorillonites (OMT). The nanocomposites structures are demonstrated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM); The thermal properties of the nanocomposites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It is shown that different methods and organophilic montmorillonites influence the morphology and thermal stability of polypropylene/clay nanocomposites. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.