Organo-modified montmorillonite reinforced walnut shell/polypropylene composites

This article presents the preparation and characterization of walnut shell/PP composites and compares with wood flour/PP composites. The effects of organo-montmorillonite (OMMT, 0, 3 and 5 wt.%) as reinforcing agent and MAPP as coupling agent (4 and 6 wt.%) on the mechanical and physical properties were also investigated. Composites manufactured via melt compounding and subsequent hot press. The resulting composites had acceptable and comparable properties to wood flour properties and the highest improvement of mechanical properties was achieved at 3% organo-clay loading and 6% MAPP. Morphologies of the nanocomposites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). SEM study approved the good interaction of the walnut shell flour with the polymer as well as effectiveness of organo-clay in improvement of the interaction. TEM study revealed better dispersion of silicate layers in polymer–matrix composites (PMCs) loaded with 3 wt.% of clay.