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Modification of Montmorillonite with Phosphonium Surfactant and Its
Influence towards Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Low Density
Polyethylene Nanocomposites
Mujahidah Binti Mohd Ramzi
Supervisor: Dr. Aidil Adhha Bin Abdullah
Bachelor of Science (Chemical Sciences)
School of Fundamental Science
The objective of this study is to compare the effect of single and dual modification of
montmorillonite on the morphology, mechanical and thermal behaviour of the
polyethylene nanocomposites by melt intercalation method. Montmorillonite was
modified by using trihexyltetradecylphosphonium ion (THTDP) by ion exchange
method to form organoclay (OMMT). OMMT will undergo second modification via
silane grafting reaction with 3-aminoproplytriethoxysilane (APTES) to form grafted-
OMMT and make it more compatible with polymer matrices. IR spectrum for OMMT,
OMMT grafted, and Na-MMT grafted obtained indicates that there are alkyl chain in
the samples that comes from THTDP surfactant and APTES agent. The basal spacing
of OMMT, OMMT grafted, and Na-MMT grafted increased due to the modifycation of
the clay that leads to a shift of the diffraction peak toward lower angles.
421 | U M T U N D E R G R A D U A T E R E S E A R C H D A Y 2018