Solid-state mechanical properties and microstructure of polypropylene/nylon-6 clay nanocomposities

Abstract

To study the mechanical properties and microstructure of polypropylene/nylon 6 nanocomposites. Polymer blends of polypropylene (PP) and nylon 6 (Ny6) were used as a matrix. The nano-filler used to improve the mechanical properties of polymer blends was organoclay. Organoclay (Org-MMT) was treated by quatermary ammonium compound acting as reinforcing filler. Compatibilizer, PP-MA, was used to improve the adhesion between phase and dispersion of Org-MMT in matrix. The mechanical properties and microstructure of the composite that processed by twin screw extruder were investigated at different amount of compatibilizer and Org-MMT. By adding 9.5wt% of PP-MA in polymer blends, tensile modulus and elongation at break increased by 21% and 99%, respectively. Improvement of adhesion and dispersion between PP and Ny6 was improved by adding PP-MA as shown in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrograph. The result of physical reacting between maleic anhydride and amine of nylon 6 was supported by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Moreover, by adding PP-MA, the crystallinity of Ny6 was decreased which confirmed by DSC thermograms and XRD results. The increasing of PP-MA in nanocomposites decreased tensile modulus and elongation at break of the composites. However, the presence of Org-MMT as reinforcement showed the decreasing of tensile modulus and viscosity as a function of Org-MMT due to the good dispersion of Org-MMT in matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be verified the insertion of polymer and dispersion between galleries. Furthermore, the thermal stability of nanocomposites observed by DMA showed higher glass transition temperature than polymer matrix.