Abstract:
Polypropylene-Bijoypur rl1,ile Clay (PP-BWC) composites wah different PP and BWe
wmposition such as 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0,40, 0.50 kg a/EWe in 1.0 kg PP were prepared
by extru8lOn molding method. n,e XRD, IK VTAITGA, UV-v's and the de electrical
measurements were carried out on the PP, BWe andfil'e d;jferen/ PP-BWC compOSItes.
The XlW and IR analysis reveal that there are definite structural trans/ormation of PP
due /0 the inclUSIOna/EWe. The VTAITGA results reveal thai the melting temperature
changes from 430 to 435 K as EWe increases in the composites. The high temperature
degrada/lOll and evolunon qf gases occur due 10 dehydrogenation and oxidatIve reactions
in the polymer. In the UV-Vis a650rplion studies. the band gap and direct lran.mion
energy gap of PP and PP-BWC composItes were observed. The band gap and Ihe d,recl
transilion energy gap decrease wah increasing EWe conlenl. The currenl voltage (I-V)
characlerIStlCS were recordod ill the voltage range 0 to 160 V. From Ihe I-V
characterIstic it is evldenl thaI OhmIC conduction and a conduction process other Ihan
Ohmic are operative at Ihe lower and higher voitage regions in Ihese materials
respectrllefy. The d.C'_conductivity measurement were peiformed In the lemperallLre range
298 to 410 K. The acltvatioo energy val"es are obtamedfrom the plots qf log<r versus
1fT. The acltvalion energy of all the samples has hIgher values in high temperature
region than those at law temperature regloo. In both law and high temperature regions
the acttvanon energy decreases with mcreasing EWe. These observations suggesl Ihal
lhe de. conductivity may be due to ion motIOn by hoppmg process.
