Relationship between Morphology and Rheology of PA/PE/Clay Modified Blend Nano composites

Blends of polyamide 6 (PA6) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were compatibilized using an already investigated method and a sample of Cloisite 30B, a montmorillonite modified with ammonium quaternary salts was added. All the blends were prepared by using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder and characterized by SEM analyses. In addition, the rheological behaviour were evaluated. When the added amount of IDI chain extender in PA6, the presence of IDI further enhanced the clay dispersion in the blend. SEM analyses confirmed the reliability of the prediction. It was demonstrated that the rheological studies has a reliable sensitivity to the clay dispersion and phase morphology of blend nanocomposites. This result can be attributed both to a chain extension reaction on EAA and PA6 phases and on compatibilization effect due to the possible formation of EAA-g-PA6 copolymers

Keywords:

nanocomposite , polyamide 6 , polymer blends , morphology , rheology