Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite Materials: Solution and Bulk Properties

Published

January 1, 2001

Author(s)

G Schmidt, A Nakatani, Paul Butler, V Ferreiro, Alamgir Karim, Charles C. Han

Abstract

The influence of shear on viscoelastic polymer-clay solutions was investigated by means of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) under shear. SANS measured the shear-induced orientation of polymer and platelets. With increasing shear rate an anisotropic scattering pattern developed. At higher shear rates, the scattering anisotropy increases due to the increased orientation of the clay platelets in the shear field. Cessation of shear leads to fast recovery demonstrating the system to be highly elastic. As a result of drying, these solutions produce translucent nanocomposite films with a microporous membrane character. Depending on the preparation and degree of polymer-clay film dispersion, it is possible to modify the morphology and elastic properties of nanocomposite materials. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) reveals the network character and the development of morphology as a function of polymer concentration. Preliminary SANS experiments on the films will be correlated to morphologies obtained from AFM.

Citation

Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite Materials: Solution and Bulk Properties

Pub Type

Others

Keywords

AFM, atomic force microscopy, nanocomposite films, polymer-clay, polymer-clay film, SANS, shear, small-angle neutron scattering, viscoelastic

Citation

Schmidt, G. , Nakatani, A. , Butler, P. , Ferreiro, V. , Karim, A. and Han, C. (2001), Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite Materials: Solution and Bulk Properties, Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite Materials: Solution and Bulk Properties (Accessed April 24, 2024)