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Nylon 6 (PA‐6) organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by melt processing using three different twin screw extruders (TSEs). The effect of mixing conditions, feed port location, residence time, and number of extrusion passes on the morphology and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were examined. Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and mechanical property data are reported. Particle analyses were performed on the TEM images to quantitatively characterize the extent of exfoliation. The amount of shear and the mixing conditions created by TSEs have a significant effect on the morphology and properties of PA‐6 nanocomposites. Morphology and mechanical property results show that (1) melting the polymer before coming into contact with the organoclay followed by a low level of shear and (2) maintaining a medium level of shear throughout the extruder with a longer residence time lead to extremely high platelet dispersion and matrix reinforcement for PA‐6 nanocomposites. Nanocomposites formed in a DSM microcompounder showed similar morphologies and modulus trends as those obtained with conventional TSEs; thus, this microcompounder is a good alternative for nanocomposite research especially when only small amounts of material are available. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1847–1864, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers

Organoclays with different levels of reduction in the original cation exchange capacity (CEC) were prepared to characterize the morphology and Young's modulus of their melt‐processed nanocomposites made from nylon 6 (PA‐6) and polypropylene/polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PP/PP‐g‐MA). Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Young's modulus data are reported. Three different levels of CEC reduction were obtained; WAXS analysis and percentage loss on ignition (LOI) calculations for these organoclays showed a reduction in both the intergallery spacing and in the amount of organic modifier contained in the clay with CEC reduction. The morphology and modulus results show that these reduced‐CEC organoclays led to lower exfoliation and modulus enhancement for both PA‐6 and PP/PP‐g‐MA nanocomposites. The results may be influenced by differences in layer charge and charge distribution that could have been produced during the charge reduction process. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007

In the recently published article cited above, the legends for figures 5 and 9 were incorrect. The correct legends are printed below.