An investigation of the flammability, morphology and torque rheology of poly(vinyl chloride) with silanes and Cu2+ modified montmorillonites

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Abstract

Silane-modified montmorillonites(MMTs) and Cu2+-silane modified MMTs have been prepared by treating Na+ montmorillonites (Na +-MMTs) with silane coupling agents and copper (II) sulfate, and poly( vinyl chloride)(PVC)/ modified MMT composites were prepared by using a twin-screw extruder. The microstructures of the modified MMTs and the composites were characterised by XRD and SEM. The results indicated that the silanes and Cu2+ were intercalated into the interlayers, and that the silane-modified MMTs and Cu2+ -silane modified MMTs were exfoliated and dispersed in PVC by the melt-intercalation method. A small amount of Cu 2+ was observed to shorten slightly the interlayer spacing of MMTs. The cone calorimetric data demonstrated that Na+-MMTs and modified MMTs changed the fiammability behaviour of the composites; they effectively reduced the peak heat release rate (pk-HRR), peak smoke production rate (pk-SPR), total smoke production (TSP) and ignition time (IT). Cu 2+-silane modified MMTs presented a better smoke suppressant effect than Na+-MMTs and silane modified MMTs, and the smoke-reducing efficiency of Cu2+-silane modified MMTs reached 44% although the Cu2+-silane modified MMTs contained only a small amount of copper (II) ion, 0.6-0.8%. The torque experiments indicated that silane modified MMTs improved the processability of the composites, while Cu2+-silane modified MMTs obviously increased the plasticising time of the composites. The tensile strength and flexural strength of the composites increased compared with PVC/ Na+-MMTs composite. ©Smithers Rapra Technology, 2009.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Polymers and Polymer Composites

First Page

291

Last Page

301

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS