Microstructure and mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites based on PA6/NBR/HNT

Abstract

Microstructure and mechanical properties of nanocomposites were studied for polyamide‐6 (PA6)/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) reinforced with pristine and organosilane modified halloysite nanotubes (HNT). Organosilane modification of the nanotubes was done to enhance the interfacial interactions and therefore to achieve TPE nanocomposites with more fine morphology of the NBR phase and better controlled mechanical properties. The effects of rubber content, HNT loading and modification of HNT on the morphology and mechanical properties were investigated. The nanocomposites and HNTs modified with [3‐(2,3‐Epoxypropoxy)‐propyl]‐trimethoxysilane were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nitrogen adsorption (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning colorimeter (DSC). The morphology study of prepared nanocomposites show that the size of NBR droplets in TPE nanocomposites reduces by introducing of pristine and organosilane modified halloysite nanotubes into the PA6 phase. The mechanical properties investigations revealed that the Young's modulus increases up to 45% and 75% by introducing of pristine and modified HNTs into the PA6 phase respectively. The results show that significant improvement was achieved in the physical and mechanical properties of PA6/NBR thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites containing of silane modified HNTs. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E451–E461, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers