Vermiculite Filler for Polymeric Nanocomposites: Thermal and Dispersion Study

Abstract

The demand of nanocomposites for filler properties which is expected utilization. Natural minerals are keeping one of the prior positions in that significance. The thermal properties and strength of the requested properties expected to be improved for polymeric materials. Modification of that layered materials is still necessary to assure the compatibility of the filler with polymer with non-polar character. The organically modified montmorillonite is still the most frequently studied mineral for the application as the filler. Comparing montmorillonite and vermiculite we can note the difference in layer charge of silicate layer. Thus the vermiculite with higher charge could be more stable. Modification of jet milled vermiculite with amine and phosphonium salts using thermal treatment was performed using 10% of organic amount. The changes of interlayer space of samples after intercalation and nanocomposites were studied using X-ray diffraction analysis. Higher degradation temperature for nanocomposites with vermiculite was defined using thermogravimetry