Abstract:
In this study, polypropylene (PP), one of the most widely used polyolefins, was used to make a hybrid material of wood flour and nanoclay. The hybridization was carried out by melt compounding and followed by injection molding. Bentonite, phyllosilicate-based nanoclay found in Thailand, was initially treated with hexadecyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) in order to broaden the gallery of nanoclay. XRD confirmed the d-spacing at 20.48 and 42.21 Å. The treated nanoclay was blended with PP and wood flour with addition of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) as a compatibilizer. The exfoliation and intercalation of nanoclay were characterized by XRD. The effect of MAPP and nanoclay on the mechanical and thermal properties of the hybrid material was investigated.
