Elaboration et caractérisation des composites et nanocomposites à matricepolyoléfinique :Effet de la taille des particules de la charge et des agents compatibilisants

Abstract

The combination of raw bentonite and a polymer matrix of polypropylene (PP) can improve the performance of the material in terms of thermal and mechanical properties. In this study, two kinds of untreated bentonite: bentonite-Maghnia (bent-m) and bentonite-Mostaganem (bent-M) that differ in MA). Stearic acid -were coupled to typical maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP 3 O2 the proportion of Al (SA) and amino acid L-leucine (AA) were selected as new compatibilizers, at 5/5 (V/V) of bentonite/compatibilizer. PP/bentonite composites were prepared by melt mixing at 190°C. Morphological observations showed good dispersion of bentonite into the polypropylene matrix in the presence of AA, SA, and PP-MA compatiblizers.Mechanical properties showed an increase on stiffness when bent-m or bent-M were associated to AA coupling agent. For instance, PP/bent-m/AA composite showed an increase of about 12% in Young’s modulus as compared to neat PP. On the other hand, the addition of SA coupling agent into bent-m maintained the stiffness, elongation at break and strain at break at an acceptable level. An increase of around 40°C in the decomposition temperature was observed for the PP/bent-m/SA composite. All coupled composites showed high degradation temperatures.