synthesis and properties of plasticized sulfur-montmorillonite nanocomposites by melt-blending

Plasticized sulfur/montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared by the melt-blending method and the dispersion of montmorillonite (mmt) and the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were studied. natural sodium montmorillonite (nammt) and organically modified montmorillonite (ommt) were used as filler. scanning electron microscope (sem), x-ray powder diffraction (xrd) and transmission electron microscopy (tem) indicated that ommt is dispersed effectively in the plasticized sulfur matrix. the effect of varying amounts of natural sodium montmorillonite (nammt) and organically modified montmorillonite (ommt) on the mechanical properties of the prepared nanocomposites were studied. the compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths of the plasticized sulfur nanocomposites containing ommt compared to that containing nammt were, in general, greatly improved. best mmt dispersion observed at 1.6 wt. %.