Thermal oxidation of clay-nanoreinforced polypropylene

The thermo-oxidation process at low temperatures for a montmorillonite-nanoreinforced polypropylene (PP) was studied. Experimental aging kinetic data at 100, 80 and 60 °C have been obtained and compared with a computational simulation in which a kinetic model based on the closed loop approach was used. As a result, it has been found that the montmorillonite role is not limited to a role of inert filler in the polymer matrix but induces a slight catalytic effect leading to induction period reduction. This effect has been well simulated by increasing initial hydroperoxyde concentration. The consequences of kinetic control by oxygen diffusion have also been investigated by using micro ATR-FTIR mapping to assess concentration profiles of the oxidation products across the sample thickness. It has been found that the oxidized layer thickness is close to 17 μm for the pure polypropylene whereas it is around 10 μm for the nanocomposite at 100 °C. These profile variations have been attributed to differences in oxygen diffusion coefficient values. Simulations based on the kinetic model including diffusion-reaction coupling describe these profiles well.