Preparation and characterization of polypropylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites by intercalative polymerization

Polypropylene/montmorillonite (PP/MMT) nanocomposites were prepared via int ercalative Polymerization. The wide angle X-ray diffractometer (WAXD) patte rns and the transmission electron microscope(TEM) images of the PP/MMT nano composites showed the MMT layers were exfoliated into nanometer size and di spersed uniformly in the PP matrix. The nanocomposites exhibited much highe r storage modulus compared to that of pure PP. Especially at the temperatur e higher than T-g, the storage modulus of PP/clay nanocomposites was about three times that of pure PP. The maximum decomposition temperature and HDT of the nanocomposites remarkably increased with the increasing of MMT conte nt.