Improved Mechanical Properties of Montmorillonite/Nylon 6 Nanocomposites by the Modification of Novolac

Abstract

A nanocomposite was successfully prepared via melt blending of Nylon 6 (PA6) and montmorillonite (MMT). The MMTs were modified by octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (OTAC) and Novolac, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations showed that MMT platelets were partially exfoliated or intercalated in the PA6 matrix after modification. The Novolac modified MMT (N-MT) showed better intercalation in the PA 6 matrix than did the OTAC modified MMT (18-MT). At a content of 3 wt% of N-MT, the Vicat softening temperature of the PA6/N-MT nanocomposites was raised by 2°C. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposites showed that both the addition of N-MT or 18-MT into PA6 matrices enhanced tensile strength and flexural strength of the PA6 nanocomposites by sacrificing its impact strength and ductility. Especially, the flexural strength of PA6/N-MT nanocomposites containing 10wt% N-MT was improved to 200.3% compared with that of pure PA6.

Keywords:

• Montmorillonite
• Novolac
• Nylon6
• nanocomposites
• X-ray diffraction
• XRD
• TEM
• mechanical properties