Effects of organoclay Soxhlet extraction on mechanical properties, flammability properties and organoclay dispersion of polypropylene nanocomposites

The organic treatment on a layered silicate used in nanocomposite synthesis is the interface between the hydrophilic layered silicate (clay) and hydrophobic polymer in the case of polypropylene. However, the typical synthesis of an organoclay can result in excess organic treatment which can hinder mechanical and flammability benefits. This excess organic treatment may result in plasticization of the polymer matrix, possibly removing some of the mechanical and flammability property benefits provided by the nanocomposite. In this paper, the effects of using Soxhlet Extraction on the Organoclays after synthesis was investigated. Soxhlet extraction times on organoclays were found to have an effect on the mechanical and flammability properties of the resulting polypropylene nanocomposite. The removal of excess organic treatment by Soxhlet extraction resulted in improvements in flex modulus, improved clay dispersion, delayed time to ignition, and lowered heat release rate during burning. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.