Contact angle measurement of select compatibilizers for polymer-silicate layer nanocomposites

This paper investigates the use of contact angle measurement as an analysis method for determining suitable polymers and clay coating for synthesis of partially-intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites. A modified sessile drop method was used to evaluate three different polypropylenes (i.e. isotactic homopolymer, maleic anhydride grafted, and silane-grafted species) with a pristine and an organophilic coated montmorillonite. The results of the contact angle analysis revealed that those polymer–clay systems experiencing complete wetting had also been found in the literature to be suitable for melt-intercalated nanocomposites.