Effect of o-MMT Content on Properties of Poly (vinyl chloride)/Poly (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) Blends

Abstract

In this study, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/poly(acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) (ASA)/ organophilicmontmorillonite (o-MMT) nanocomposites were prepared and the effects of o-MMT content on theproperties of PVC/ASA blends were investigated. The thermal stability, mechanical properties and waterabsorption percentages of the nanocomposites were studied. Surface morphology studies of the o-MMTcontaining blends were also performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermogravimetricanalysis (TGA) test results showed that o-MMT inclusion enhanced the thermal stability of PVC/ASA/oMMT nanocomposites and the decomposition temperature at 50% weight loss (Td50) increased by 7.5 ˚Cwhen the o-MMT content was 10 wt%. The tensile strength value of the neat blend was obtained as 32.51MPa and found to increase as 36.01 MPa when the o-MMT content was 6 wt% in the system. The waterabsorption test results demonstrated that the water-resistance of the samples enhanced as the o-MMTcontent increased. Moreover, PVC/ASA blends exhibited a significant increase in the contact angle by thepresence of hydrophobic o-MMT. The weathering test results demonstrated that the PVC/ASA/o-MMTnanocomposite films could be used for outdoor applications without apparently losing their properties.