Multiple Melting and Crystallization of Nylon-66/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

Qing Xin Zhang, Zhong Zhen Yu, Mingshu Yang, Jun Ma, Yiu Wing Mai

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

73 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nylon-66 nanocomposites were prepared by melt-compounding nylon-66 with organically modified montmorillonite (MMT). The organic MMT layers were exfoliated in a nylon-66 matrix as confirmed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy. The presence of MMT layers increased the crystallization temperature of nylon-66 because of the heterogeneous nucleation of MMT. Multiple melting behavior was observed in the nylon-66/MMT nanocompoeites, and the MMT layers induced the formation of form II spherulites of nylon-66. The crystallite sizes L100 and L 010 of nylon-66, determined by WAXD, decreased with an increasing MMT content. High-temperature WAXD was performed to determine the Brill transition in the nylon-66/MMT nanocomposites. Polarized optical microscopy demonstrated that the dimension of nylon-66 spherulites decreased because of the effect of the MMT layers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2861-2869
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics
Volume41
Issue number22
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Nov 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Crystallization
  • Montmorillonite
  • Nanocomposites
  • Nylon
  • Organoclay

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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