Contact angle measurement of select compatibilizers for polymer-silicate layer nanocomposites

This paper investigates the use of contact angle measurement as an analysis method for determining suitable polymers and clay coating for synthesis of partially-intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites. A modified sessile drop method was used to evaluate three different polypropylenes (i.e. isotactic homopolymer, maleic anhydride grafted, and silane-grafted species) with a pristine and an organophilic coated montmorillonite. The results of the contact angle analysis revealed that those polymer-clay systems experiencing complete wetting had also been found in the literature to be suitable for melt-intercalated nanocomposites.