Roya Mashayekhi - Polymer and Textile Department, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
Morteza Ehsani - Polymer and Textile Department, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
Shervin Ahmadi - Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute (IPPI), Tehran, Iran
Ramin Khajavi - Polymer and Textile Department, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
Hossein Ali Khonakdar - Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute (IPPI), Tehran, Iran

The PA۶/clay nanocomposites were prepared during in-situ anionic ring-opening polymerization (AROP) via reactive melt blending in a Hakke internal mixer. Then, the samples were characterized using FT-IR, DSC, DMTA, rheometer, XRD, SEM/EDX/elemental mapping, TEM, and HT-GPC to study the effects of Cloisite ۱۵A on PA۶ properties. The results showed that nanoclay caused a decrease in the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), crystallinity, Tm, Tg, and tan δ of the samples. However, it increased the Young′s modulus and stress rupture of the samples. Furthermore, the nanocomposites showed a pseudo-solid behavior because of the reinforcing effect of the nanoparticles. Additionally, α crystals were not seen in the samples with ۱ and ۳ % nanoclay; however, γ crystals were observable in those samples. Also, nanoclay decreased PA۶ viscosity and increased dispersity and residual monomers in the nanocomposite samples. The nanoclays exfoliated in the sample have ۰.۵ % nanoparticles, but they were intercalated by more loading in the PA۶ matrix. Moreover, the PA۶ microfibrils were observed as sporadic and clay-centered clusters in the SEM micrographs of the pure and nanocomposite samples, respectively. Therefore, the clustering of PA۶ microfibrils in the matrix during in-situ AROP is considered a novelty in current research.

Polyamide ۶, Nanoclay, nanocomposites, Clusters, In-Situ Polymerization