Synthesis and characterization of organomontmorillonite and polyamide 66/montmorillonite nanocomposites

The montmorillonites (MMTs), layered, smectite-type silicates, were premodified by two different methods prior to the polymer melt intercalation. In one case MMTs were modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and termed as organomontmorillonites (OMMTs); in the other case MMTs were modified by nylon, and the products were called modified montmorillonites (MMMTs). The effects of CTAB and nylon on the MMTs were investigated by using TG and WAXD. The results show that interlayer spacings of CTAB and nylon modified MMTs are larger than that of sodium MMTs. Then, polyamide 66 (PA 66)/MMT nanocomposites were obtained through the method of melt intercalation of polymers. The nanocomposites were characterized by WAXD, TEM and Molau experiments. The results indicate that the MMTs disperse homogeneously in the PA 66 matrix. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites, such as tensile properties and flexural properties, were also measured and show a tendency to increase with increase of MMT content and reach the maximum values at 5phr MMT content. The heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the nanocomposites (7 phr) is about 32 K higher than that of pure PA 66.