The synthesis, characterisation and rheological properties of clay-polymer nanocomposites

This study aims to investigate the effect of different crosslinking agent and different crosslinking agent content on the material properties of the clay-polymer nanocomposite. A lot of materials were tried to be mixed to form a fully-reacted clay-polymer nanocomposite for the first time, which is a part of the novelty for this work. The overall properties governed by clay properties and clay/polymer relationship are prime aspects of this study. The Enhancement of significant properties of nanocomposites is a measure of clay platelets dispersion within the polymer matrix. Different approaches were adopted to understand the influence of clay properties on the nanocomposite; (i) by examining and comparing different clays as raw, dry, powder material using spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (ii) mechanical examination of clay/water suspension of different clay types/grads, and different concentrations varying from 0.5 % - 10 % using rheological studies (iii) chemical and mechanical and morphological examination of Clay/Polymer nanocomposite with different clay types/grades, concentration, and polymers. The synthesis of such material addresses issues including heterogeneity, processability, injectability, crosslinking and mechanical stability. The synthesis requires no purification steps no specialist equipment, and basic typical components of crosslinked nanocomposite/hydrogels (water, monomer, clay and initiator). Morphological, pore size and scaffolding general arrangement which shows the effect of different crosslinking agents and crosslinking density were examined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to acquire information on wide/small pores are, diffusion kinetics in the system if required for further applications. The nature and elemental composition of the clay-polymer nanocomposites were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier Transfer Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The water content in the dry clay-polymer nanocomposite was determined and examined by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanical and rheological properties of the result were examined using a rheometer that operates on different modes (as a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) technique) to evaluate the structure, performance, strength, and mechanical modules of these nanocomposites under different rotational and oscillatory loads. This offers the opportunity to relate the differences to the clays and polymers the hydrogels were synthesised from.