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A continuous ultrasound assisted process using a single screw extruder with an ultrasonic attachment was developed to prepare polyolefin/clay nanocomposites of varying clay concentrations. Isotactic polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) were chosen as a polymeric matrix. A partial intercalation of polymer molecules into clay galleries, which occurs at short residence times (on the order of seconds), was observed, as evident from the measurements by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The obtained results indicated the rapid intercalation of polyolefin/clay nanocomposite without the matrix being chemically modified. Two methods for fabrication of PP/clay nanocomposites using a continuous ultrasound assisted process were compared. In the first approach, where a two stage process was implemented, the nanocomposites were prepared using a co-rotating twin screw extruder followed by a single screw extruder equipped with ultrasonic die attachment.

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Born in 1975 in Alexandrov, Russia. Graduated with honors from Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology with MS degree in Polymer Engineering in 1998. Moved to the USA in pursue of Doctorate at the University of Akron, OH. Obtained PhD in Polymer Engineering in 2006.

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