Relaxation behavior of poly(trimethylene 2,6-naphthalate) in nanoclay confinement

The relaxation behavior of poly(trimethylene 2,6-naphthalate)/nanoclay composites is investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). The incorporation of two different types of nanoclays in the PTN matrix intercalated the PTN chains in the narrow space of clay intergalleries and constrained the polymer chains in the vicinity of nanoclay layers. Despite the presence of constrained region, the glass transition temperature of the PTN/nanoclay composite is decreased as compared to neat PTN. Moreover, the activation energy of the PTN is reduced and the relaxation rate of PTN becomes faster in the presence of nanoclays. The enhanced relaxation dynamics of PTN chains at T-g depends on the evolution of local free volume owing to the confining effect of chain intercalation.