Abstract
In general, to enhance physical properties of PET-layered silicate nanocomposites $(P_{et}LSNs)$, it has been well known that the organic modifiers should introduce into gallery regions. However, the organic modifiers in$(P_{et}LSNs)$ may result in thermal decomposition by melt processing at high temperature, and it necessarily lead to deteriorate various physical properties of final products. Therefore, in this study, $(P_{et}LSNs)$ excluding and including organic modifiers were prepared by solution method $(S-P_{et}LSNs_{eom} and S-P_{et}LSNs_{iom})$ and we (focused on the effects of the organic modifiers in $P_{et}$ LSNs with exfoliation structure on the crystallization behaviors, the optical transparency, the thermal stability and the mechanical property. The absence and existence of organic modifiers in $S-P_{et}LSNs_{eom} and S-P_{et}LSNs_{iom}$ were investigated by EA and TGA, and nano-structure of silicate layers in $S-P_{et}LSNs$ was evaluated by using WXRD, SAXS and TEM. $S-P_{et}LSNs_{eom} and S-P_{et}LSNs_{iom}$ were mixed with neat PET as masterbatches by melt method $(M-P_{et}LSNs_{eom} and M-P_{et}LSNs_{iom})$, and also neat PET was mixed with organically modified layered silicates (OLS) by conventional direct melt method $(D-P_{et}LSNs) at 270^{\circ}C$. As results, it was found that $M-P_{et}LSNs_{eom}, M-P_{et}LSNs_{iom}, and D-P_{et}LSN$ showed a exfoliated structure and exhibited faster crystallization rate, better thermal stability and mechanical property than those of neat PET due to the dispersed and detaminated silicate layers in PET matrix. Whereas, considering organic modifiers effect, $M-P_{et}LSNs_{eom} and D-P_{et}LSN$ exhibited slower crystallization rate, poorer optical, thermal and mechanical properties, in comparison to $M-P_{et}LSNs_{eom}> due to the thermal decomposition of organic modifier in $D-P_{et}LSNs$ during melt method.