Simultaneous enhancements of mechanical and thermal properties of monomer cast nylon via polydimethylsiloxane‐modified kaolin

Abstract Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐modified Kaolin was prepared by the reaction between kaolin and PDMS. MC nylon 6/kaolin and MC nylon 6/kaolin‐PDMS composites with different filler contents were prepared through in situ polymerization. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis show that the feeding of kaolin improved thermal stability and crystallinity of nylon. When 1 wt% addition of kaolin‐PDMS, the tensile strength and impact strength of the as‐prepared composites reached a maximum value of 77.7 MPa and 4.5 kJ/m², respectively, exhibiting remarkable mechanical properties. Meanwhile, the water absorption capacity of the as‐prepared composites was greatly reduced by 60% with the addition of kaolin, and the modified kaolin possesses even better performances. The results show that the treated kaolin can greatly enhance the properties of cast nylon and has an outstanding application prospect.