Structural Identification of Polymer Nanocomposites

M. Bilewicz, K. Labisz, T. Tański, J. Konieczny and M. Górniak Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, S. Konarskiego 18a, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

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Composites and nanocomposites as commercially used engineering materials with continuous development, are important for rising market and industry needs. Significant role is played by polymers, whose consumption increases every year, thanks to low cost of production, economical processing and broad scope of material composition possibilities, including nanomaterials and basing on them nanocomposites. Nanocomposites, using power of nanotechnology, may improve physical, chemical and mechanical properties, comparing to composites. Investigation of structure and properties of such materials is necessary to obtain knowledge about phenomena at micro and nanoscale and gives opportunity to design and control structure, because the properties of any material depend on its matter. Polymer matrix nanocomposites are interesting and very promising class of polymer composites. Investigation of structure development due to different heat treatment and under different processing condition of injection molded specimens of polypropylene and montmorillonite composition has been performed. Dispersion of nanoreinforcement, in the shape of 2:1 layer silicates, was observed under transmission and scanning electron microscope. Application of advanced technology of multiplication of oriented layer mostly reinforcing and orienting micro and nanoparticles along polymeric specimen, allowed to obtain several layers and significantly reinforced material. Light microscope has been used for observation layered zone, visible just in polarization mode.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.126.895 PACS numbers: 36.20.-r, 61.41.+e, 81.20.-n, 81.40.Gh, 81.40.Lm, 81.70.-q, 81.70.Bt, 82.35.-x