Polypropylene/Modified Nanoclay Composite-Processing and Dyeability Properties

Polymer nanocomposites are new classes of composite materials derived from nanoparticles with at least one dimension in the nanometric range. Polypropylene nanocomposites have attracted a considerable interest due to its most widely used and fastest growing classes of thermoplastic polymer with low cost and low density. However, a problem associated with polypropylene is its dyeability. There have been many attempts by polymer and textile chemists for finding solutions for producing dyeable polypropylene. Chemical structure of nanoclay particles can provide dye site in nanocomposites Polypropylene /Nanofil, a natural montmorillonite modified with benzyl tallow dimethyl ammonium salt composites were prepared (at different ratios) by melt mixing and pressing. Maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene (PP-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer. SEM images show that clays were dispersed in to the PP matrix in the form of large and small non isometric aggregates. However, the size of aggregates in the sample with 2 wt% nanoclay and 4wt% PP-g-MA (PP24I) was larger. Thermal properties were not affected much but the crystallinity percentage and mechanical properties reduce slightly. Films could be dyed with a dispersed dye with acceptable was fastness and the shade changes with changing the clay content.