Effects of the processing sequence and critical interparticle distance in PA6-clay/mSEBS nanocomposites

Polyamide 6 (PA6) based nanocomposites were modified by maleinized styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene (mSEBS) rubber through a modified processing with the aim of ameliorating the microstructure and performance of the nanocomposites, as well as examining the parameters that make the brittle/ductile transition of nanocomposites change. The studied parameters were the rubber and the organoclay contents. After the modified processing, the average dispersed particle size decreased and an overall increase in the impact performance occurred. This is attributed to a more effective reaction between the maleic groups of the rubber and the amine end groups of the PA6 when there is no surfactant present. The analysis of the variation of the critical interparticle distance (τc) indicates that it depends on the modulus of elasticity of the matrix (i.e., on the organoclay content) and on the interfacial adhesion, wherein higher modulus of elasticity and higher adhesion leads to smaller τc values.