The influence of interfacial agents on the morphology and viscoelasticity of PP/MMT nanocomposites

This paper deals with the viscoelastic characterization of polypropylene montmorillonite nanocomposites, using ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers as compatibilizers. In fact, nanocomposites viscoelastic properties showed different influences on both elastic and viscous components caused by EVA and EVOH compatibilizers. Also, a strong relation between time-dependent viscoelastic properties and system morphologies was established. where a better compatibilizer effectiveness was found to the EVA-containing nanocomposites, despite of higher clay interlayer spacing in PP/MMT/EVOH system. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.