Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) characterization of nanoclay dispersion in polymer nanocomposites.
Polymer nanocomposites are polymers containing particle-like substances dispersed at the nanoscale level. This brings about significant enhancement to the materials’ properties. The degree of dispersion of these nanoparticles affects the final properties of the material and thus has to be characteri...
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| Format: | Final Year Project |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2009
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/16642 |
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| Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Polymer nanocomposites are polymers containing particle-like substances dispersed at the nanoscale level. This brings about significant enhancement to the materials’ properties. The degree of dispersion of these nanoparticles affects the final properties of the material and thus has to be characterised with suitable and convenient techniques.
In this report, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry will be used to characterise the dispersion of nanoclay in polymer nanocomposites instead of conventional techniques such as wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results obtained from FTIR spectra were curve fitted with non-linear least squares method using Gaussian and Lorentzian peak types. It was found that Gaussian peaks gave the best results.
A correlation was drawn between the spectra full width at half maximum (FWHM) to the results obtained from WAXD and TEM techniques. It was found that the extent of reduction in the spectra FWHM corresponded to the degree of nanoclay dispersion in the polymer nanocomposites as suggested by the intercalated and exfoliated structure observed from WAXD and TEM techniques. |
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