Nanocomposites of polyamide 6 and Claytone 40 organoclay were prepared with the melt intercalation technique using an internal mixer chamber coupled with roller type rotors. The addition of increasing amounts of Claytone 40 into the PA6 matrix was evaluated for the degree of dispersion, crystallinity, thermal and mechanical properties. The compositions were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical properties. The diffraction patterns and microscope images suggest the formation of partially exfoliated or intercalated structures, which was associated with an increase in stress values and elastic modulus. The comparison of DSC and XRD results from the mixtures revealed changes in the behavior of crystalline structures, thus indicating that the PA6 crystallinity is correlated with the mechanical properties.
Nanocomposites; montmorillonite; organoclays; polyamide 6
