Radiation effect on polypropylene/natural rubber/clay nanocomposites

Abstract

Polymer clay nanocomposites are hybrids materials consists of inorganic fillers and organic polymeric matrix with one having a dimension in the nanometer range. Montmorillonite (MMT) one of the layered clay minerals which is used as filler in this work is a hydrated alumina silicate clay composed of two silicate tetrahedral sheets with certain alumina octahedral sheet. The silicate layers of MMT are planar with 1 nm thickness and 1000 to 2000Å′ in length and width. This silicate layers do not occur as isolated individuals but aggregated to form crystalline structures. A few weight percent of layered clay if exfoliated and homogeniously dispersed in polymer matrix resulting material with superior mechanical, thermal and barrier properties [1].