Mechanical Properties of Polycaprolactone/Clay Nanocomposites Films

LEANDRO LUDUEÑA; VERA ALVAREZ; ANALÍA VÁZQUEZ

Buenos Aires - Argentina

Congreso; International Conference on Science and Technology of Composite Materials, COMAT 2005; 2005

The aim of this work was to determine the optimal processing parameters to produce polymer/clay nanocomposites films in order to achieve the highest mechanical properties.  Nanocomposites with 5, 7.5 and 10 wt. % of clay were prepared by exfoliation adsorption with two different solvents, dichloromethane and a mixture of 50%v/v of dimethylformamide and dichloromethane for 5, 10, 15 and 20 min of ultrasonic bath. The best properties where achieved for 5%wt clay being Young´s Modulus 50% higher than the matrix but with a reduction of 40% in tensile strength and 33% in elongation at break. Optimal processing parameters where obtained for 15 min of ultrasonic bath and a mixture of 50% v/v of dimethylformamide and dichloromethane.