New approach for preparation of exfoliated clay hybrid via wet kneading masterbatch process

Through using modified masterbatch method which comprised the wet kneading and intercalated modifiers process, the fully exfoliated nylon clay hybrids (NCHs) were achieved. In the wet kneading procedure, the organoclay plates were easily wetting by the intercalated modifiers. Then the shearing force could completely exfoliate the organoclay with nylon 6 matrix even which only had lower molecular weight during the extrusion process. NCEs and NCAs, two series of NCHs, were prepared from the intercalated modifiers, alkylamide and polyamide, respectively. The XRD and TEM examinations show that the fully exfoliated NCHs can easily be made. The NCEs show a faster crystallization rate because alkylamide with the lower molecular length and the melting temperature act as a soft segment to make crystallization more easily and more regularly. The tensile test shows that the NCEs have higher values of modulus and yield strength and the NCAs can keep better elongation properties. Furthermore, the tensile specimen shows a cone‐like fracture, which is considered more perfectly exfoliated and arranged because of the good interaction between the silicate plates and nylon 6. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013