Photodegradation Effect on Electrical and Thermal Performance of Polyaniline-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

Polymer-clay nanocomposites have attracted significant research interest for more than a decade for various applications. The structural, thermal, and electrical stability of a nanocomposite determines its durability and long-term application under sunlight and UV photodegradation of dyes, lithium nanopolymer batteries, and petroleum pipeline corrosion protection, in addition to the effect of high temperatures, e.g., in the Sahara. In the present work, the intercalation of montmorillonite clay within the polymer structure was done by organophilization using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The obtained nanocomposite was characterized in terms of its structural, electrical, and thermal properties using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the four-pin method, and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The effect of photodegradation on polymer nanocomposite properties was assessed under sunlight and UV radiation under laboratory conditions. The obtained results highlighted the good barrier properties of the nanocomposite, attributed to the clay part.

Automated summary

Polymer-clay nanocomposites have been extensively studied for more than a decade due to their various applications, including UV photodegradation of dyes, lithium nanopolymer batteries, and petroleum pipeline corrosion protection. In this study, montmorillonite clay was intercalated into a polymer structure using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The nanocomposite was characterized in terms of its structural, electrical, and thermal properties, and the effect of photodegradation on the nanocomposite was assessed under sunlight and UV radiation. The results highlighted the excellent barrier properties of the nanocomposite attributed to the clay component.