Microstructure, crystallization and dynamic mechanical properties of polyamide/clay nanocomposites after melt‐state annealing

Abstract Polyamide 6/clay (PA/clay) nanocomposites produced by melt‐compounding were treated under various melt‐state annealing processes. The effect of melt‐state annealing on the microstructure, crystallization, and dynamic mechanical properties was characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Clay layers were exfoliated in PA matrix. The crystalline transformation between α and γ‐crystalline phase was virtually dependent on the annealing process and clay loading. After melt‐state annealing between 230 and 250°C, clay induced the appearance of a new endothermic peak in PA/clay. PA/clay after melt‐state annealing exhibited a higher elastic modulus above T_g and a lower β relaxation below T_g as compared with the non‐annealed sample. FTIR analysis demonstrated that the melt‐state annealing caused strong hydrogen bonding interaction of amide groups with clay layers. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers