Influence of the layered silicate type on the structure, morphology and properties of cellulose acetate nanocomposites

This paper deals with the effect of different montmorillonite source clays, including pristine and organophilic montmorillonites, on the structure, morphology and properties of cellulose acetate (CA)/clay nanocomposites. In this study, the nanocomposites were prepared by melt extrusion in the presence of the environmentally friendly triethyl citrate plasticizer. The structure and morphology of the materials were analysed by X-ray diffraction and scattering (SAXS), X-ray microtomography and energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). SAXS and EFTEM results indicated that the nanocomposite morphologies were made up of tactoids together with exfoliated clay platelets in different proportions depending on the clay type. It can be concluded that well distributed clay tactoids and platelets can be achieved in CA nanocomposites prepared by melt extrusion and consequently property improvements can be found by using pristine or organophilic clays. In this case, the addition of a plasticizer, able to intercalate in the clay gallery, seems to be sufficient to promote the clay delamination mechanism under shearing inside the cellulose acetate matrix.