Thermo-oxidative ageing of an organo-modified clay and effects on the properties of PA6 based nanocomposites
a b s t r a c t In this work a careful investigation on the degradation of an organically modified montmorillonite sample (Cloisite 15A) thermal treated under different atmospheres, namely nitrogen, air and oxygen enriched atmosphere was performed. The exposure time of the thermal treatment ranged between 5 and 300 min. The chemical composition evolution as function of the thermal treatment conditions of the clay organic modifier was monitored by means of combined thermogravimetry/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR). Moreover, the morphological behaviour of treated Cloisite 15A sam- ples as function of the time and of the decomposition atmosphere was investigated by X-ray dif…
Effect of heating of organo-montmorillonites under different atmospheres
Abstract We studied the influence of heating on the behaviour of two organo-montmorillonites paying particular attention to the possible degradation effects of the organic modifier under different atmospheres. Hoffmann elimination and anucleophilic substitution on the nitrogen led to rapid degradation of the modifier. As confirmed by deconvoluted FTIR spectra, the presence of oxygen accelerated the degradation rate. The degradation products of the modifier (α-olefins transforming into various carboxyl compounds if oxygen is present) initially increased the basal spacing, followed by a collapse of the particle layers when the decomposition products migrated toward the surface and eventually …