Study of the Rheological Properties of PP/Clay Systems under Steady and Oscillatory Shear Flows

Abstract

In this work, polypropylene (PP) and organophilic clay composites without and with PPgMA compatibilizer were obtained. The organoclay was incorporated into the PP matrix at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10 phr in order to obtain composites without compatibilizer. In the systems with compatibilizer, concentrations of 0.5 and 1phr of the organoclay were used. The systems were characterized by rheological measurements under steady and oscillatory shear flows. In the rheological characterization, it was observed that the viscosity and storage modulus at low frequencies increased with the increase in the clay content and with the compatibilizer. These results are relevant in the evaluation of the influence of the compatibilizer in the processability and in the degree of clay dispersion.