Fundamental studies of in-situ polymerization of nylon-6 nanocomposite
Date
2004-08
Authors
Shabbir, Shagufta
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Abstract
Nanocomposites were originally studied as early as the 1960’s. In more recent
times nylon 6-montmorillonite clay nanocomposite have their origin in the pioneering
research conducted at Toyota Central Research Laboratories where these two divergent
organic and minerals were successfully integrated. To understand the fundamental
behavior of these nanocomposites, several different types of nylon 6 nanocomposites
were prepared via in-situ polymerization in our lab. The mechanical and physical
properties were determined and compared to the material made previously.
This research project focuses on formation of nanocomposite by in-situ
polymerization and understanding the resulting properties of the composite. Nylon 6
nanocomposites were made using montmorillonite and laponite, to study the effect of
different particle size on the nanocomposite. Another aspect which is looked at is
optimizing the molecular weight of the nanocomposite. Nylon 6 montmorillonite nanocomposite made by Toyota (CRL) showed a low molecular weight. Thus, in this
research the number of initiators used in the polymerization process is reduced to give
high molecular weight nanocomposite. Silane edge treated nanocomposite are also
studied, the silane-coupling agents interacts with hydroxyl groups present on the edges of
the clay plates it is functionalized so that it participates in the polymerization process.
Two different general types of nanocomposite using silane were made, one in
which the surface is treated with the aminocaproic acid which initiates polymerization on
the surface of the clay plates, thus resulting in a nanocomposite which has polymer
growing from the surface as well as from the edges of the clay plate and another in which
the surface is not treated with the initiator and the polymer grows from the edges of the
clay plate.
From the comparative results the conclusions that were drawn were that the edge
and the surface treated nanocomposite showed a dramatic improvement in the impact
property as compared to the surface treated nanocomposite. The edge treatment of the
organoclay showed a well-exfoliated structure as compared to other melt-compounded
nanocomposites. Optimizing the molecular weight and the use of laponite instead of
montmorillonite did not show any significant improvement in the nanocomposite
characteristic.
Description
Keywords
Polymerization, Polymers, Silane, Composite materials
Citation
Shabbir, S. (2004). <i>Fundamental studies of in-situ polymerization of nylon-6 nanocomposite</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.