In situ polymerization of poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)/organic montmorillonite nanocomposites and their ionomers as crystallization nucleating agents for poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)/organic montmorillonite (SMA/OMMT) nanocomposites are obtained through in situ polymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride. The OMMT is exfoliated into small platelets and dispersed well in SMA copolymers, which is thus easily made into ionomers/OMMT (IM) nanocomposites. The IMs are employed as nucleating agents for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and the crystallization behavior is investigated by DSC isothermally and non-isothermally, respectively. The crystallization rate of PET is significantly accelerated and melt-crystallization temperature is increased with the addition of IMs which acted as heterogeneous nucleating agent due to good miscibility between anhydride and PET, and large interfaces provided by exfoliated OMMT.

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