Thermal dehydroxylation of clay as alternative to organic modification: effects on properties of nanocomposites

This study presents a novel approach towards clay modification via thermal dehydroxylation, for polymer nanocomposite application. The feasibility of modification of clay via thermal dehydroxylation and its influence on the polymer properties was investigated, with reference to the polyproplylene (PP) nanocomposites. In spite of ample available literatures on organophillic clay/polymer composites, use of organic compound for the clay modification has been found detrimental in various aspects. Therefore, in order to corroborate the advantage of the thermal dehydroxylation method over organophillic modification, a comparative aspect of the effect of the organically modified and thermally dehydroxylated clay on the polymer properties has been established. Wherein, remarkably greater mechanical, dynamic mechanical, thermal and microstructural properties were noticed in case of nanocomposites reinforced with thermally dehydroxylated clay. Modification of clay via thermal dehydroxylation method was found to be an effective approach for polymer nanocomposite application.