Ageing Study and Solvent Resistance of a Polypropylene and Organoclay Nanocomposite

Abstract The objective of this research was to study the influence of thermal ageing and solvent resistance of a polypropylene (PP) and organoclay (OMMT) composite. This reinforced composite is a nanocomposite material and is generally used for the fabrication of automobile components and in the house construction parts. The loading of the organoclay was 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 wt %. The composites were prepared by calendering followed by melt extrusion and subjected to mechanical testing, thermal ageing, solvent (toluene) resistance and optical microscopy observations. The results obtained showed that, before thermal aging, at 3 wt % OMMT loading, the tensile strength and hardness are maximal and the elongation at break is minimal. After thermal aging, at 5 wt % organoclay loading, the tensile strength is maximal and the elongation at break is minimal. The resistance towards toluene dissolution is maximal at 3 wt % of OMMT loading. The optical microscopy indicates the apparition of cracks at the interfaces broken samples and debonded organoclay agglomerates from polypropylene matrix induced by thermal ageing.