Penelitian mengenai nanokomposit polimer telah menjadi penelitian yang banyak dilakukan dalam ilmu kimia polimer dan material selama belakangan ini. Telah berhasil dilakukan fabrikasi nanokomposit dengan matriks polipropilen dan lempung Pacitan sebagai nanofiller dengan menggunakan metode melt intercalation. Campuran terdiri dari polipropilen (PP), organoclay dari Pacitan (OCP), maleicanhydride (MA) dan diphenylamine (DPA). Struktur nanokomposit dikarakterisasi menggunakan X-ray diffractometer (XRD) dan transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hasilnya menunjukkan terjadinya interkalasi clay Pacitan yang menyebabkan pelebaran jarak galeri lapisan silikat. Uji mekanik menunjukkan nanokomposit memiliki modulus tarik dan lentur lebih tinggi, tapi kekuatan tarik dan lentur lebih rendah dibandingkan PP-OCP0 dan harga literatur PP murni. Modulus tarik yang paling tinggi dimiliki oleh nanokomposit dengan kandungan organoclay sebanyak 7 wt%. Sifat termal PP-OCP0 dan PP-OCP7 diuji menggunakan alat Heat deflection temperature (HDT). Hasilnya menujukkan bahwa nilai HDT PP-OCP7 lebih rendah dari nilai HDT PP-OCP0.

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The study of polymer nanocomposites has been an active research field in polymer chemistry and materials science for the past decade. Nanocomposites which consist of polypropylene as matrix and Pacitan clay nanofiller have been successfully prepared by a melt intercalation method. The compound consisted of polypropylene (PP), Pacitan organoclay (OCP), maleicanhydride (MA), and diphenylamine (DPA). The structure of nanocomposites was investigated using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that an intercalation of silicate layers was occurred. The intercalation caused the silicate layer distance expansed and PP was able to move into the gallery. The results of mechanical test show that the nanocomposites have higher tensile and flexural moduli, but lower tensile and flexural strengths compared to PP-OCP0 and theoretical value of pristine PP. The PP-OCP7 sample has best mechanical properties. Sample of PP-OCP0 and PP-OCP7 were thermal tested by using a heat deflection temperature (HDT) machine. The HDT results show that PP-OCP7 has a lower HDT value than the PP-OCP0.