Properties study of Nylon-Nanoclay Composites

Abstract

Nanocomposite technology is a young material science and plastic nanocomposites are among its first commercial applications. Its products improve barrier, flame resistance, thermal and structural properties of many plastics. They are not only used to improve existing products, but also are extending their reach into areas formerly dominated by metal, glass and wood. Its main focuses may be the appliance, construction, electrical, food packaging and transportation sectors. The key to the performance of polymer nanocomposites is the quality of dispersion of the nano-reinforcement particles and the interfacial interaction between the matrix and the reinforcement phase. Optimisation of these properties requires various special and complicated treatments, which are not always easy to determine. Often property enhancement is not as significant as expected by the industry for the use of these nanocomposites. In the study Nylon, was compounded with three different nanoclays developed and provided by CSMCRI with proportion of 3 and 5 % with and without using compatibilisers. This study was jointly carried out by Plastic Engineering Department – Nirma University and CSCMRI, Bhavanagar. CSMCRI intended to build data and knowledge base leading to the development of the polymer / clay based nanocomposites using bentonite clay of Indian origin and had identified IDS, NU for conducting compounding and testing work in the area of “Compounding and Testing of Nanoclays for Polymer / clay Nanocomposites”