Page 88 - Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

64 Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

Yoo et al. [66] have prepared the recycled PVC/clay nanocomposite by melt mixing
of recycled PVCs and modified clays. In the case of 10 wt% of nanoclay, the charac-
teristic peak of clay has purely disappeared. Also, the CTE decreased with addition of
nanoclay with rPVC. The improvement of mechanical properties of the nanocomposite
is also observed simultaneously at, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt% of nanoclay loading. Further, the
thermal decomposition behavior and linear dimensional of nanocomposite has
improved proportionally to the contents of nanoclay. Further, it is observed that, at
55°C, the storage modulus of nanocomposite composed of 10 wt% of nanoclay is
11 times higher than that of neat rPVC. Fig. 2.31 shows the storage modulus of the
nanocomposites as a function of temperature.
Jannapu Reddy [67] have investigated the effect of graphene nanoparticles on the
properties of recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE). The large improvement of
properties was observed only with a little content of graphene reinforcement. It is
reported that only about 0.25 wt% of graphene introduced more tensile modulus;
dielectric constant (k) and thermal conductivity are obtained in rHDPE
nanocomposite. It is concluded that only extremely slight contents of nanofillers
can significantly improve the properties of rHDPE.
Martin et al. [68] have investigated the nanocomposite of recycled polymethyl
methacrylate (rPMM) with both natural and organically modified silicate layers.
There is no improvement in thermal properties of nanocomposites, but at higher dis-
persion degree, the nanocomposites showed higher transparency extent. The tensile
modulus increased with nanoclay content for both nanoclays that introduced
nanocomposites with attractive properties by the maintenance of transparency and
thermal properties of waste matrix.
Andric ˇi c et al. [69] have prepared composites consisting of preconsumer waste
composed of PVC and PP in the presence of surface-modified nanosized CaCO 3 con-
tents of 40, 25, and 10 wt%, respectively. Agglomeration of the nanofiller in matrix

3500 RPVC
RPVC/clay(1wt%)
3000 RPVC/clay(3wt%)
Storage modulus, G (MPa) 2000
RPVC/clay(5wt%)
2500
RPVC/clay(10wt%)

1500
1000

500

0
20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Temperature (°C)

Fig. 2.31 Measurement of the storage modulus of the nanocomposites [66].