Synthesis and characterization of poly(n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-organo- modified montmorillonite (OMMT) clay hybrid nanocomposites

The dispersion characteristics of organoclay in nanocomposites based on poly(n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-montmorillionite organoclay nanocomposites were prepared via solution intercalation method. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results suggest that the organo-modified clay layers are intercalated with PVP during processes. As evidenced by DSC and TGA of the organo-modified clay nanocomposites exhibited enhanced melting temperature and rate of crystallization of the polymer matrix. SEM and XRD results clearly showed that the formation of exfoliated-intercalated structure of PVP is due to organoclay dispersion in the polymer network of the nanocomposites.