MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS IN ETHYLENE-VINYL-ACETATE COPOL YMERJORGANIC MONTMORILLONITE COMPOSITES AND THEIR EFFECT ON SOME PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITE

Abstract

Molecular interactions in organically modified montmorillonite (O-MMT) and copolymerethylene-vinyl-acetate with content of vinyl acetate of 9% (EV A)/O-MMT composite wereevaluated by means of the fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR). Their physicomechanicalproperties were estimated with the stress-strain tester. Therm'll stability of thecomposite was determined using a thermogravimetry. The FTIR data revealed hydrogen bondand ionic bond interaction between functional end groups of organic modifier and surfaceoxygen of interlayer clay sheet lying in the organically modified clay. Apart from that, thehydrogen bond formation between intercalated polymer with organic modifier and surfaceoxygen of clay sheet locating in the interlayer clay gallery in the polymer clay composite alsowas observable. The effect of these interactions on the physico-mechanical properties andthermal stability of the composite was discussed.