Effects of organoclay on morphology and mechanical properties in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/polyamide 6/ organoclay ternary nanocomposites

Abstract

AbstractIn this article, polyamide 6(PA6)/organoclay masterbatch were prepared by melt mixing, and then acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene(ABS)/polyamide 6(PA6)(70/30,w/w) nanocomposites were prepared by the melt mixing of PA6, ABS and organoclay. The effect of organoclay platelets on morphology and mechanical properties of ABS/PA6/organoclay ternary nanocomposites had been investigated by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical properties testing. Morphology analysis revealed that organoclay platelets were selectively dispersed and exfoliated in PA6 phase, but some were located in interface of PA6 and ABS phase. The droplet size of PA6 dispersed phase were gradually reduced less than 4 phr organoclay, then the dispersed domain size became unchanged with the addition of various organoclay. It suggested the organoclay can compatibilize the ABS/PA6 blend nanocomposite. Moreover, the flexural strength and modulus increase with increasing organoclay content, but the tensile strength became maximal at 3 phr organoclay. The organoclay has no effect on impact strength of ABS/PA6 blend nanocomposite.