Poly(m-xylene adipamide)-kaolinite and poly(m-xylene adipamide)-montmorillonite nanocomposites

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 104; no. 3; pp. 1377 - 1381
• Main Authors: Ammala, Anne, Hill, Anita J., Lawrence, Kelly A., Tran, Thuy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 05.05.2007; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; barrier; Composites; crystallization; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; nanocomposites; nylon; organoclay; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Clay; Nylon; Organic clay; Transport properties; Montmorillonite; Multiple layer; Dispersion reinforced material; Crystallinity; Experimental study; nanocomposites; Composite material; Gas permeability; Shear viscosity; barrier; Bottle; Morphology; crystallization; Injection blow molding; organoclay; Kaolinite; Nanocomposite; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.22566

Two clay compounds, montmorillonite (Cloisite 30B) and kaolinite, were dispersed in a poly(m‐xylene adipamide) resin at loading levels of 2 wt % clay. The samples were melt‐compounded and extruded. The extruded samples were injection‐molded into preforms and then blow‐molded into multilayer bottles. Rheology, calorimetry, electron microscopy, and gas‐transport measurements were performed. Both clays were nucleating agents, giving crystallite sizes that did not cause haze. Kaolinite was more difficult to exfoliate than montmorillonite, and under similar processing conditions, kaolinite resulted in a higher degree of crystallinity. Both nanocomposites exhibited improved gas‐barrier properties over the neat resin. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1377–1381, 2007