Effect of miscibility and interaction on the properties of polymethylmethacrylate/aramid nanoblends

The generation of supramolecularly organized structures from intermolecular interaction motivated us to fabricate new miscible nanoblends of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and aramid. The polyamide, prepared through the condensation of 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene and 1,4‐phenylenediamine with isopthaloyl chloride, was incorporated into PMMA matrix to produce completely miscible nanostructured blends via physical interlocking. The influence of polymer–polymer interaction on the macroscopic properties of blends were studied using mechanical testing, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Ample adhesion between the blend components revealed higher tensile strength in the range 51–58 MPa. The physical interaction of PMMA with varying aramid content altered blend morphology significantly, i.e. from ellipsoidal to circular realms having well‐defined boundaries and knitted nanofibril network. Blends with 10–70 wt% aramid, thus, possessed exclusive patterns owing to nanolevel compatibility between two phases. Differential scanning calorimetry results also designated exclusively miscible blends with glass transition between 67–81°C, lower than that of pristine polymers. Ten percent gravimetric loss temperature (T₁₀) increased from 465°C to 531°C with increasing aramid content from 10 to 70 wt%. Novel nanoblends holding spherical/cylindrical supramolecular arrangement, easy processing, and thermal and mechanical integrity can be potentially favorable in many industrial applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.