Study on Morphology and Thermal Behavior of Polyethylene Terephthalate-Montmorillonite Nanocomposite

Silicates like montmorillonite (MMT) have been used as reinforcing materials due to their greatly enhanced mechanical and barrier properties and flame resistance. Nanocomposites of montmorillonite -polymer can be produced via three routs ,i.e. solution, in situ polymerization and direct polymer melt intercalation where the polymer chains diffuse into the space between the clay galleries .This process can be carried out through a conventional melt –compounding process. Melt blending is an economically favorable process and a few experiments have been demonstrated [1,4].Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a thermoplastic , semi crystalline polymer with low cost and high performance and has variety of applications in textile in form of fibers and films in food packaging and soft drink bottles. However, its disadvantages such as low rate of crystallization has made its engineering application limited.[5]In this research, PET/MMT nanocomposite, with different contents of MMT ( 1,3and5 wt%), was prepared via melt compounding and its viscosity and crystallization behavior are investigated and its nano-dispersion morphology was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy