Polypropylene/organoclay/SEBS nanocomposites with toughness–stiffness properties

Polypropylene nanocomposites with a different amount of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS)/clay were prepared via a melt mixing technique. To improve the dispersion of commercial organoclay (denoted as OMMT), various amounts of SEBS were incorporated. At a fixed content of OMMT, the mechanical properties were improved with increasing SEBS content. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC-TG) and mechanical tests. The thermal–morphological–mechanical properties were investigated. The nanomaterials presented an improved decomposition temperature, a small decrease in tensile strength, a higher Young's modulus and a spectacular increase of 300% in impact strength.