Correlation in Morphology and Thermal Behavior of Nanoclay-reinforced Polyetherimide Nanocomposites

Abstract

Organoclay (Cloisite 30B)-reinforced polyetherimide (PEI) and pristine nanoclay (K10)-reinforced PEI nanocomposite films were made by solution casting process with 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 wt% values of nanoclay. Scanning electron micrographs showed that Cloisite 30B was uniformly dispersed in PEI/Cloisite 30B nanocomposites. Glass transition temperature (Tg) of PEI/Cloisite 30B nanocomposites was observed to be higher than those of neat PEI and PEI/K10 nanocomposites. Tg remained unchanged for all wt% values of Cloisite 30B, whereas Tg of PEI/K10 kept on reducing with increasing values of the content of K10. Wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron micrographs showed intercalation and exfoliation, of Cloisite 30B, which restricted the diffusion of heat through silicate layers to achieve high thermal stability of PEI/Cloisite 30B nanocomposites over PEI/K10 nanocomposites in thermogravimetric analysis and isothermal aging.