Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Analytical Chemistry

New and well dispersed polyethylene nanocomposites were developed. Montmorillonite K10 (MMT) as aluminosilicate layers was modified using organic silanes which have different side chains. The organic silanes used were 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylamine, N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine and trimethoxyvinylsilane. The modification of MMT was elucidated using X- ray diffraction (XRD), microscopic technique, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The newly developed organoclay was dispersed in polyethylene matrix producing well exfoliated polymer nanocomposite. The mass ratio of dispersed organoclay was varied and the effect of silylated MMT on thermal stability and flammability properties of the PE was evaluated. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) and average heat release rate (AHRR) of the PE-MMT-S nanocomposites were reduced to 48 and 61 %, respectively in comparison with pure PE. Also, the average mass loss rate (AMLR) was significantly reduced by 50 %. On the other hand the emission of toxic gases during the combustion of both developed polymer nanocomposites prepared using different silane modified montmorillonite clay and those prepared using commercial organically modified montmorillonite clay was evaluated quantitatively using FTIR spectroscopy as a profound technique. The effect of different silane compounds used for the modification of the clay layers on the tendency of emission of toxic gases was also studied. This is in addition to studying thermal stability and flammability properties of nanocomposites of commercially modified organoclay

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