Mechanical and rheological properties, and morphology of polyamide-6/organoclay/elastomer nanocomposites

The effects of ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (E-MA-GMA) terpolymer and three types of organoclays (Cloisite (R) 15A, 25A, and 30B) on mechanical and rheological properties, and morphology of impact modified polyamide-6/montmorillonite ternary nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), parallel disk rheometry, melt flow index measurements, and tensile and impact tests. The materials were prepared by melt blending using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. XRD and TEM analyses showed that exfoliated-intercalated nanocomposites were formed in both polyamide-6/Cloisite (R) 25A and Cloisite (R) 30B binary nanocomposites and in ternary systems. SEM micrographs showed that rubber domain sizes were larger in the nanocomposites than in their corresponding polyamide-6/elastomer blends. Generally, tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break decreased with the addition of elastomer to polyamide-6/organoclay binary nanocomposites. In the melt state, liquid-like behavior of polyamide-6 slightly turned to pseudo solid-like in the binary and ternary nanocomposites. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012