COMPARISON OF POLYAMIDE 66/MONTMORILLONITE NANOCOMPOSITES PREPARED FROM POLYAMIDE 6 AND POLYAMIDE 66 BASED MASTER-BATCHES

Two master-batches, polyamide 66 (PA66)/organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) and polyamide 6 (PA6)/OMMT, prepared by melt compounding with methyl methacrylate (MMA) as co-intercalation agent, have been used to prepare nearly exfoliated PA66/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites. The resulting nanocomposites are compared in view of their morphology and properties. Nano-scale dispersion of OMMT is realized in both types of nanocomposites, as revealed by XRD, TEM and Molau tests. PA66/MMT nanocomposites having superior mechanical properties and heat distortion temperature (HDT) can be obtained from either PA66/OMMT or PA6/OMMT master-batch. Those from PA6/OMMT have lower tensile and flexural properties, and HDT than those from PA66/OMMT due to the presence of less stiff and less thermal resistant PA6. The crystallization behavior and crystal structure of the matrix in both types of PA66/MMT nanocomposites are also investigated by DSC and WAXD.