Melt-Blending or Solution-Sonication: Preparation of ABS Nanocomposites

Polymer clay nanocomposites can be obtained using different approaches. Melt blending is commonly used because it does not require the use of an organic solvent, however high temperatures and shear stresses can lead to thermal degradation of the organic surfactant in the clay and possibly to a reduction in the aspect ratio of the layered silicate. The use of sonication during the solution intercalation process avoids these problems. M. Modesti and coworkers carried out a detailed comparison study using ABS/clay nanocomposites containing an imidazoliumsalt-modified montmorillonite. Morphological, mechanical and thermal properties of the composites have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, TEM, dynamic-mechanical analyses, thermal gravimetric analyses, and by fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) of optical probes. The data clearly show that, for the system studied, solution-intercalation is more effective at dispersing and improving mechanical properties than MB.

M. Modesti et al., Polym. Adv. Technol., DOI: 10.1002/pat.1172