Morphology and fracture behavior of toughening-modified poly(vinyl chloride)/organophilic montmorillonite composites

Toughening-modified poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) composites with an impact-modifier resin (Blendex 338) were prepared by melt intercalation, and their microstructures were investigated with wide-angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of the PVC composites were examined in terms of the content of Blendex and OMMT, and the fracture toughness was analyzed with a modified essential work of fracture model. Intercalated structures were found in the PVC/OMMT composites with or without Blendex. Either Blendex or OMMT could improve the elongation at break and notched impact strength of PVC at proper contents. With the addition of 30 phr or more of Blendex, supertough behavior was observed for PVC/Blendex blends, and their notched impact strength was increased more than 3319% compared with that of pristine PVC. Furthermore, the addition of OMMT greatly improved both the toughness and strength of PVC/Blendex blends, and the toughening effect of OMMT on PVC/Blendex blends was much larger than that on pristine PVC. Blendex and OMMT synergistically improved the mechanical properties of PVC. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.