Production of nanocomposites of PET-montmorillonite clay by an extrusion process

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was mixed by extrusion with clay (montmorillonite) to produce nanocomposites. Additives (pentaerythrytol and maleic anhydride) were added to induce compatibility between the particles and the matrix. Thermal, mechanical and rheological properties of the nanocomposites were evaluated. The nanocomposites with additives presented improved mechanical strength. In shear, the viscoelastic properties decrease with rising particle concentration and additives content. The resulting new materiales present processing advantages and potential improvements in performance.