Effect of electric field on polymer/clay nanocomposites depending on the affinities between the polymer and clay

ABSTRACT Applying an electric field is an efficient way to fabricate polymer/clay nanocomposites. It helps to achieve a good dispersion of nanoclays which improves the performance of the polymeric system. In this study, the effect of an alternating current (A.C.) electric field was investigated on clay exfoliation with various combinations of polymer/clay nanocomposites. Three different types of organoclays (Cloisite 10A, 20A, 30B) were introduced in polypropylene (PP) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrices. Their rheological properties showed that the A.C. electric field was effective in enhancing the dispersion of organoclays in both the PP/clay and PLA/clay composites. The efficiency of the A.C. field varied depending on the combination of polymer and clay nanoparticles. In the case of PP, the best combination was PP/C20A followed by PP/C10A and PP/C30B. In contrast, PLA/clay showed an …