Critical assessment of structural changes in some copolyamide‐clay hybrid materials in correlation with the filler characteristics

A series of three copolyamide‐clay hybrid nanocomposites were prepared using three different smectite clays (bentonite, montmorillonite K10, and Nanomer I.30P) by a solventless melt mixing process. The influence of the nature of clays on the structural changes was critically assessed by comparison with the neat copolyamide. Nanocomposite samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle X‐ray diffractometry (WAXD), UV–vis spectrometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The testing yielded in direct and indirect evidences of structural changes induced by the presence of clays in correlation with their characteristics, as nature of the clay, particle size, granulometric distribution, and particle dispersion into the matrix.