Multi-scale analysis of polypropylene based organoclay containing composites, Part 1: Morphology

A multi-scale study of the dispersion state of PP/organoclay and PP-g-MA/organoclay composite was performed. Microscopic investigation, WAXS diffractograms and rheological analysis were used to characterize the dispersion of organoclay in PP and PP-g-MA matrices during melt blending in different morphological scales: from nano- to bulk-scale. The results show a system of aggregating intercalated clay particles which disperse with increasing mixing time with a strain-controlled process for PP-g-MA/organoclay nanocomposite, whilst PP/organoclay samples only form microcomposites.