Hierarchical structures of olefinic blocky copolymer/montmorillonite nanocomposites with collapsed and intercalated clay layers

Abstract

The hierarchical structures of olefinic blocky copolymer (OBC)/organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites with different dispersion states of clay, including collapsed and intercalated OMMT (c-OMMT and i-OMMT), were characterized by various techniques. It is observed that, there are more densely stacked clay layers in single clay particles with a smaller size but larger distance between the adjacent clay particles in OBC/c-OMMT. c-OMMT exhibits stronger nucleation ability on crystallization of OBC than i-OMMT. This leads to a smaller size of the macroscopic crystals, thicker lamellar crystals, and more amorphous phase included in the inter-lamellae but less amorphous phase among different macroscopic crystals in OBC/c-OMMT. These differences in the hierarchical structure are responsible for the more obvious strain-hardening behavior but smaller strain at break of the OBC/c-OMMT nanocomposites.