Molecular Structure of Nylon in Nylon 6-Clay Hybrid

The molecular structure of nylon in nylon 6-clay hybrid (NCH), in which clay silicates were dispersed uniformly, was analyzed using a field desorption mass spectrometer. The main peaks of fragment ions from the mass spectrum of NCH, were classified into ion groups. Two possible molecular structures of NCH were postulated supposing different locations of the copolymerized nylon 12 monomer unit (12-aminolauric acid) which was intercalated in the clay prior to the polymerization to enhance the miscibility between the clay and nylon 6. We compared the experimental fragment ion groups with those from the expected structures. From these results, it became clear that nylon 12 monomer units did not exist only at the end of nylon 6, but also occur randomly along the nylon 6 main chain. NCH without having any 12-aminolauric acid units was proved to have improved thermal properties.