Abstract: Composites based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were prepared by a melt mixing method. Effect of HNTs content on morphologies and properties of composites was investigated by mechanical measurements, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and effecting mechanism of HNTs toward PVC was analyzed. The results indicated that HNTs could generate a toughening effect on PVC, and PVC/HNTs composites exhibited an increase in storage modulus and glass transition temperature in comparison pure PVC. HNTs presented a good dispersibility in PVC matrix, and there was no agglomeration of HNTs observed with a variation of content of HNTs, which may be attributed to a good interfacial adhesion between PVC and HNTs according to an interface semiempirical parameters B of 4.35.

Key words: poly(vinyl chloride), halloysite nanotube, composite, morphology