Probing polymer chain constraint and synergistic effects in nylon 6-clay nanocomposites and nylon 6-silica flake sub-micro composites with nanomechanics. Issue 4 (2nd October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Jian; Beake, Ben D.; Bell, Gerard A.; Tait, Yalan; Gao, Fengge
• Is Part Of: Nanocomposites. Volume 1:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 185
• Page End: 194
• Publication Date: 2015-10-02
• Subjects: Nanomechanics -- Creep compliance -- Chain constraint -- Nanoindentation -- Modulus; Nanocomposites (Materials) -- Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: Http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20550324.2015.1116842
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-0324

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, we report that a synergistic effect exists in the surface mechanical properties of nylon 6–clay nanocomposites (NC) that can be shown by nanomechanical testing. The hardness, elastic modulus, and nanoindentation creep behavior of nylon 6 and its nanocomposites with different filler loading produced by melt compounding were contrasted to those of model nylon 6 sub-microcomposites (SMC) reinforced by sub-micro-thick silica flakes in which constraint cannot occur due to the difference in filler geometry. Polymer chain constraint was assessed by the analysis of nanoindentation creep data. Time-dependent creep decreased with increasing the filler loading in the NC consistent with the clay platelets exerting a constraint effect on the polymer chains which increases with filler loading. In contrast, there was no evidence of any reduced time-dependent creep for the SMC samples, consistent with a lack of constraint expected due to much lower aspect ratio of the silica flakes. Abstract :