Polyamide 6/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by the melt intercalation technique. The clay was treated with a quaternary ammonium salt (Genamin) to obtain the organoclay (OMMT), being characterized by X ray fluorescence (XRF) and X ray diffraction (XRD). The results confirmed the incorporation of the salt into the clay structure, i.e. the organophilization. The nanocomposites were obtained with a counter-rotational twin screw extruder with 3 wt.% of clay and characterized by XRD, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tensile testing, dynamical-mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and heat deflection temperature (HDT). The XRD and TEM results showed exfoliated and/or partially exfoliated structures. The tensile properties were superior to those of the pure polyamide 6.The analysis with DMTA and HDT also showed that the incorporation of the organoclay into the polymer matrix increased the rigidity (storage modulus) of the system, confirming the reinforcing effect of the clay on the polymer.
Nanocomposites; polyamide 6; organoclay
