Abstract Polymer/clay nanocomposites are a new class of composites with polymer matrices where the disperse phase is a silicate with elementary particles that have at least one of dimensions in nanometer order. Polyamide 6/Brazilian organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation, and the mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical properties were studied. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was verified by XRD and TEM analysis that all systems presented exfoliated structure predominantly. By thermogravimetry (TG), nanocomposites showed higher stabilities in relation to pure polymer. It was observed that the nanocomposites showed better mechanical properties compared to the properties of polyamide 6. The heat deflection temperature (HDT) values of the nanocomposites showed a significant increase in relation to pure polymer.

Membranas de híbridos orgânico/inorgânico de poliamida 6 e argilomineral constituído de silicatos em camadas foram estudadas em comparação com o polímero puro. Uma argila sódica, como recebida da indústria, e outra organofilizada com os sais quaternários de amônio Dodigen e Cetremide foram utilizadas. Os sais tornam hidrofóbica a superfície da argila e favorecem sua incorporação na matriz polimérica no estado fundido. A partir dos nanocompósitos obtidos foram preparadas membranas por meio da técnica de imersão-precipitação, tendo como solvente o ácido fórmico e como método de produção a precipitação em um banho de água (não-solvente). O teor do ácido nas soluções poliméricas, dos híbridos e da poliamida 6 pura, foi variado para avaliar sua influência na morfologia e na permeabilidade das membranas produzidas. As membranas apresentaram morfologia assimétrica, constituída de uma pele filtrante e um suporte poroso. A presença da argila tratada com os diferentes sais alterou a formação dos poros, tanto na superfície como na seção transversal. As partículas de argila provavelmente atuaram como barreira ao fluxo. Observou-se ainda que o teor de ácido utilizado influenciou de forma significativa a estrutura assimétrica da membrana; quanto maior o teor de ácido maior a espessura da pele filtrante. O teor de ácido também levou à alteração do tamanho e da distribuição dos poros. As medidas de fluxo realizadas com os dois teores de ácido diferentes mostraram uma resposta em função da morfologia diferenciada obtida.

Organic/inorganic hybrid membranes of polyamide 6 and mineral clay containing layers of silicate were prepared and compared to those of the pure polymer. Use was made of an as-received sodium clay from industry and another organophilized with ammonium quaternary salts (Dodigen and Cetremide). The salts make the clays surface hydrophobic and improve their incorporation into the polymer matrix in the molten state. Membranes were prepared with these nanocomposites using the immersion-precipitation technique with formic acid as a solvent, and precipitation in a water bath as non-solvent. The acid concentration in the solution containing the polymer and the hybrids was varied to study its influence in morphology and permeability of the membranes. An asymmetric morphology consisting of a filter skin and a porous support was observed, with pores both on the surface and in the cross section being affected by the different salts. This asymmetric morphology was also affected significantly by the acid concentration, with thicker filter skins for higher concentrations. The acid concentration affected the pores size and their distribution. The clay particles probably acted as a barrier to the flow. The permeating flux for the two acid concentrations varied as a function of the distinct morphologies.

Nanocompósitos de poliamida 6 com argila organofílica foram preparados pelo método de intercalação no estado fundido. Foram estudadas as propriedades reológicas e mecânicas de nanocompósitos com argila nacional. A argila utilizada foi tratada com o sal quaternário de amônio (Cetremide) e foi caracterizada por Espectroscopia no Infravermelho (FTIR) e difração de raios X (DRX). Os resultados evidenciaram a incorporação do sal na argila e sua organofilização. Para a obtenção dos nanocompósitos, foram preparados concentrados de PA6/argila (1:1) em (m/m) e estes foram adicionados na poliamida 6, em quantidade de 3% de argila no composto final, utilizando uma extrusora de rosca dupla corrotacional. Posteriormente, as amostras foram moldadas por injeção e caracterizadas por: reometria capilar, DRX, MET e ensaios mecânicos (tração e impacto). Os resultados de reometria capilar mostraram que a presença da argila organofílica na PA6 aumentou a viscosidade dos sistemas. Por DRX e MET, foi verificado que todos os sistemas apresentaram predominância de estrutura esfoliada. As propriedades mecânicas sob tração foram melhores do que as da poliamida 6.

Nanocomposites of polyamide 6 with organoclay were prepared by melt intercalation and their rheological and mechanical properties were studied. The clay was treated with the quaternary ammonium salt (Cetremide) and characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed the incorporation of salt in the clay and its organophilization. A master was prepared with PA6/clay (1:1) by weight and this was added to the pure polyamide 6 to reach the nominal proportion of 3% of clay, using a corrotacional twin screw extruder. The samples were molded by injection and characterized by: capillary rheometry, XRD, TEM and mechanical testing (tensile and impact). The results of capillary rheometry showed that the presence of organoclay in the PA6 increased the viscosity of the systems. With XRD and TEM, it was verified that all systems presented predominantly exfoliated structure. The tensile properties of the nanocomposites were better than those of pure polyamide 6.

Nanocomposites of polymer/clay have had much attention in recent years, particularly those developed with layered silicates due to the need of engineering materials more efficient than pure polymers for certain applications. The level of exfoliation of layered silicates in crystalline structure of polymer matrices has been studied and has been observed that it affects the crystalline behavior and the physical and mechanical properties. In this study, nanocomposites of polyamide 6 were obtained by the melt intercalation method, using a Brazilian bentonite modified with a quaternary ammonium salt. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) results showed the incorporation of salt among the layers of clay, making it organophilic and that the nanocomposites presented exfoliated and/or partially exfoliated structures and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By thermogravimetry (TG), the results indicated that the presence of clay increased the thermal stability of polyamide 6. The impact properties of the nanocomposites showed inferior values in relation to the pure polyamide, in other words, decrease the toughness.

Recent interest in polymer/organoclays nanocomposites systems is motivated by the possibility of achieving enhanced properties and added functionality at lower clay loading as compared to conventional micron size fillers. By adding montmorillonite clay to polyamide 6 increases the Young modulus, yield strength and also improves barrier properties. In this work, nanocomposites of polyamide 6 with montmorillonite clay were obtained. The clay was chemically modified with three different quaternary ammonium salts such as: Dodigen, Genamin and Cetremide. In this case, a dispersion of Na-MMT was stirred and a salt equivalent to 1:1 of cation exchange capacity (CEC) of Na-MMT was added to the dispersion. The montmorillonite clay (untreated and treated by ammonium salts) and nanocomposites were characterized by X ray diffractions. Also the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and mechanical properties. The results indicated that all the quaternary ammonium salts were intercalated between the layers of clay, leading to an expansion of the interlayer spacing. The obtained nanocomposites showed better mechanical properties when compared to polyamide 6. The clay acted as reinforcing filler, increasing the rigidity of nanocomposites and decreasing its ductility.