Abstract. Combining the two basic techniques used for the preparation of single polymer composites (SPCs), hot compaction and film stacking, a polyamide 6 (PA 6) single polymer composite was manufactured. The starting materials were PA 6 high tenacity yarn (reinforcement) and PA 6 film prepared via melt quenching (matrix), both expected to be the two principal polymorphic modifications of PA 6 and thus differing in their melting temperatures. The prepared single polymer composite is characterized by a layered structure and shows superior mechanical properties due to the good wetting -tensile modulus is improved by 200% and the ultimate tensile strength -by 300-400% as compared to the isotropic matrix film. Improvement of the interfacial adhesion via transreactions promoted by Sb2O3 as a catalyst was also undertaken.

The preparation of nanofibrillar composite (NFC) materials using single‐polymer nanofibrils as starting materials is described. Such a possibility is offered by (i) the concept of polymer/polymer NFCs, which have recently been manufactured and represent a further development in the field of microfibril‐reinforced composites, and (ii) the opportunity to isolate neat nanofibrils through selective dissolving of the second blend component. The resulting nanofibrillar single‐polymer composites are characterized by superior mechanical properties (the tensile modulus and strength are improved up to 350%), competing with glass‐fiber‐reinforced PET.magnified image

Exploring the polymorphism phenomenon of polyamide 66 (PA 66) a single polymer composite (SPC) was prepared. The matrix was obtained via compression molding and quenching in ice water expecting to comprise the modification with lower melting temperature (T m ). The reinforcement was commercial textile yarn of PA 66, characterized by a higher T m . Layers of the yarn were sandwiched between matrix films and compression molded at 250 °C, i.e. 10 °C below T m of the reinforcement. SEM observations revealed the layered structure of SPC as well as a good adhesion between the composite components due to surface premelting. The tensile testing showed, as compared with the matrix, an increase of the initial modulus by 28% and of the tensile strength by 160% when the reinforcing component of the SPC amounted to only 20 wt%. Optimization of the preparation conditions, including variation of the matrix/reinforcement ratio as well as trialing of other polyamides, is in progress.