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Properties of PP/wood flour/organomodified montmorillonite nanocomposites

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Abstract

In this research, composites based on polypropylene (PP), beech wood flour, and organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT) were prepared and characterized for their properties. The blend nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing of PP/WF at 50% weight ratios with various amounts of OMMT (0, 3, and 6 per hundred compounds (phc)) in a Hakee internal mixer. Then the samples were made by injection molding. The influence of organomodified montmorillonite contents on clay dispersion, physical and mechanical properties of PP/wood flour composites were investigated. Results indicated that the flexural strength and modulus, tensile strength and modulus increased by addition of 3 per hundred compounds (phc) of organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT), but decreased with 6 phc OMMT addition. However, impact strength, water absorption and thickness swelling of the composites decreased with increasing nanoclay loading. X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the nanocomposites formed were intercalated. Also, morphological findings showed that samples containing 3 phc of OMMT had higher order of intercalation.

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Correspondence to Behzad Kord.

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Kord, B., Hemmasi, A.H. & Ghasemi , I. Properties of PP/wood flour/organomodified montmorillonite nanocomposites. Wood Sci Technol 45, 111–119 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0309-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0309-7

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