Synthesis and characterization of organosaponites. Thermal behavior of their poly(vinyl chloride) nanocomposites

The aim of this work was to synthesize and characterize the structural properties of the materials resulting from the combination of a synthetic saponite with several organic molecules, namely, Arquad 2HT-75, octadecylamine, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, trimethyloctadecylammonium bromide and tetraethoxysilane, or combinations of them, and with or without the addition of HCl during synthesis. The ratios organic molecule/saponite and HCl/organic molecule were considered as synthesis variables. Structural characterization was based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), simultaneous thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The chemical composition of the materials was determined through X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and their morphology was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The values obtained for the basal spacings were a function of the type and amount of the organic molecule. Otherwise, HCl did not significantly influence the basal spacing, but it had the capacity to significantly modify the morphology and the chemical composition of the samples. From the results found, the solids modified with tetraethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane were selected to incorporate various titanium precursors. These new organo-modified saponites were used in the formulation of PVC nanocomposites and their thermal behavior was evaluated at two temperatures (70 and 180 °C).