Molecular origins of toughening mechanism in uniaxially stretched nylon 6 films with clay nanoparticles

Introduction of nanoplatelets into the nylon matrix preorients the polymer chains in the film plane during melt casting leading to uniplanar (001) texture in nylon 6 crystalline as well as clay phase. This behavior enhances the uniformity of films during cold deformation well above the glass transition temperature by suppressing the localized necking behavior. The clay platelets reduce the polymer interchain hydrogen bonding and entanglements leading to decrease of long range “connectivity”. As a result, a delay in strain hardening during deformation occurs allowing much larger deformations to be attained without fracture. This in turn leads to increase in toughness.