Abstract
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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 46-50 |
Journal | NANOTRENDS: A JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |