Preparation and thermal characteristics of silane-grafted polyethylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites

Intercalated methacryloylpropyltrimethoxysilane (VMMS)-grafted polyethylene (PE-g-VMMS) /organo-montmorillonite (OMT) nanocomposite was prepared by melt intercalation. Its morphology and thermal characteristics were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and dynamic Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The intercalated tactoids of silicate layers within PE-g-VMMS have been verified by XRD and TEM image. TGA profiles of the nanocomposite show that the presence of the silicates exerts a significant stabilization effect on thermal-oxidative degradation process from 250 to 375°C, but less effect above 375°C. Dynamic FTIR spectra reveal that this nanocomposite has a slower thermal-oxidative degradation rate of main chains than that of pure PE-g-VMMS, but a faster rate of the pendant VMMS grafts.