POSS/polypropylene hybrid nanocomposite monofilaments by reactive extrusion

The Allyl-heptaisobutyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (AHO-POSS) grafted polypropylene (PP) was prepared by reactive extrusion and by physical blending routes. The structure and properties of physically blended and reactively blended POSS/PP nanocomposites were investigated by FTIR, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, SEM, spherutlic growth and mechanical properties studies. Chemical bonding of POSS with PP in reactive extrusion was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. DSC and TGA studies showed that the thermal stability of AHO-POSS/PP nanocomposite prepared by reactive extrusion improved significantly as compared to only physically blended nanocomposites. WAXD studies showed decrease in crystallinity of the AHO-POSS/PP nanocomposites prepared by reactive extrusion. SEM studies showed aggregation tendency in case of physically blended AHO-POSS/PP nanocomposites. Spherulite growth studies show reactive blending retards spherulite growth in PP polymer.