Polypropylene(PP)/MgAl layered double hydroxide(MgAl LDH) nanocomposites were synthesized by refluxing PP and dodecyl sulfate-intercalated MgAl LDH[MgAl(DS)] in non-polar xylene. Their structure, thermal and crystallization properties were studied via X-ray diffraction(XRD), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), and polarized light microscopy(PLM). The nanoscaled dispersion of MgAl(DS) nanolayeres in the PP matrix was verified by the disappearance of the d(003) XRD diffraction peak of MgAl(DS) and observation of TEM image. The DSC data show that the SDS/LDH inorganic components negatively affect the crystallization properties of PP and decrease the size of PP spherulites because the inorganic components act as additional nuclei. The PP/MgAl LDH nanocomposites have a faster charring progress in a temperature range of 250―430 °C and a better thermal stability above 320 °C than pure PP.
