Nylon 6/Nanoclay Composite Fibers

Nylon 6 /nanoclay composites were prepared by melt mixing nylon 6 and cloisite 30B clay at 230 -250°C. Nylon 6 was melt mixed with nano clay using three different techniques- a) Twin Screw extruder, b) Rheocord Haake mixer c) and micro-compounder. The clay loading level in the nanocomposite fibers was varied from 0.5% to 4.5%. Room temperature wide-angle x-ray diffraction experiments indicated that the clay layers were exfoliated in the nylon 6 matrix. The nanoclay composites had enhanced crystallization behavior and crystallized in the γ - form. However, the glass transition and melting temperature decreased with increasing clay content. The nanocomposites were melt spun into fibers and drawn to their maximum draw ratio. The nanocomposite fibers exhibited fairly good spinning characteristics for compositions 4% and less. The clay loading and the melt mixing parameters were found to have a direct influence on the spinning performance, drawability and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite fibers. The natural draw ratio and the birefringence for NCH filaments decreased with increasing clay content. The hybrid fibers crystallized in the γ - form, while the neat nylon 6 crystallized in the α form.