Microstructure and properties of polypropylene composites filled with co-incorporation of MCM-41(with template) and OMMT nanoparticles prepared by melt-compounding

Mesoporous MCM-41, whose pore channels were filled with cationic surfactant n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (EO-PO-EO) sequence centered on a (hydrophobic) poly(propylene glycol) nucleus terminated by two primary hydroxyl groups (Pluronic F127, molecular weight = 11,500) template mixture inside the pore channels and on the outer surface of the particle, was used directly as new fillers for polypropylene, together with organic-montmorillonite (O-MMT). The effects of different structured nano-materials, MCM-41(with template)/OMMT, nano-SiO2/OMMT on the crystallization, morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene composites were investigated. The results of PLM proved the co-incorporation of MCM-41(with template)/OMMT decreased the spherulites sizes of polypropylene and acted as efficient nucleating agents for PP crystallization. SEM revealed that the enhancement of the interface was obtained by adding MCM-41(with template)/OMMT. The results of mechanical tests showed that at same nano-material loading, the co-incorporation of O-MMT and MCM-41(with template) gave rise to much better toughness effects than co-incorporating of nano-SiO2/OMMT due to different interfacial structure between the fillers and the matrix.