Nanocomposites based on a polyamide 6/maleated styrene-butylene-co-ethylene-styrene blend: Effects of clay loading on morphology and mechanical properties

The addition of up to 6% of an OMMT to a 70/30 polyamide 6 (PA6)/maleated styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (mSEBS) blend led to ternary compounds where the rigidifying effect of the clay and the toughening effect of the rubber came together. In fact, in the 70/30 blend with 3% OMMT supertough behaviour was accomplished with a modulus increase of 44% with respect to the pure PA6 matrix. When the changes in morphology of the dispersed rubber phase in presence of OMMT are discussed, the slight decrease in viscosity upon clay addition does not explain the increase in rubber particle size that indicates a decrease in the compatibilization level. Interactions between the surfactant of the OMMT and the maleic anhydride groups of modified rubber are proposed as the reason for the decrease in compatibility. The maximum impact strength attained is rather independent of the clay content and the testing temperature. The increase in modulus of the blend upon clay addition was similar to that observed for the pure PA6 matrix, while maintaining the ductile nature in the ternary PN’s, which is not always present in PA6/OMMT binary materials.