Processing of nanocomposite hydrid of polypropylene with Brazilian nanoclay and recycled cellulose

Abstract

This work concerns the study of the mechanical and thermal behavior of the polypropylene nanocomposite (NCPP) with bentonite clay Brazilian Paraiba (PB), which is known as ‘‘chocolate’’. A Brazilian polycationic bentonite was treated with sodium carbonate to transform it into a swelling bentonite and then treated with ammonium hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride to turn it into an organoclay, swelling in organic liquids. The cellulose powder contents up to 1% by weight was mixture with organophilic clay, with (1-2) by weight, and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-AM). The nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation in a twin-screw extruder and obtained strands were pelletized. The pellets NCPP were injection-moulded. The NCPP were evaluated for their mechanical properties and morphology, by tests such as strength and impact tests, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nanocomposites showed improved mechanical properties compared with the polymer without filler.