Compatibilization of polypropylene/polyamide 6 blends using new synthetic nanosized talc fillers: Morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties

Abstract

New synthetic nanotalc and a commercially available natural fine talc (LuzenacV C A3) were chosen in order to establish a comparative study in terms of their contributions on the improvement of the morphology as well as the final properties of PP/PA6 blends prepared by melt processing. At first, the TEM and SEM micrographs showed that both talc particles have a preferential affinity for the more hydrophilic polyamide 6 phase compared with the continuous PP matrix. Moreover, in both cases, the addition of talc fillers induces a significant decrease of the size of the PA6 domains but the better compatibilization efficiency was obtained in the presence of synthetic nanotalc particles. In this work, the positive change induced by the talc nanofillers on the crystallization kinetics and final morphology was highlighted. In addition, compared with natural talc, a highly level of dispersion of talc layers has been obtained with the synthetic nanotalc which is more hydrophilic. Thus, this better dispersion greatly improves the thermal stability of PP/PA6 blends and leads to better mechanical properties (1 40% in Young's modulus).

Synthetic silico-metallic mineral particles (SSMMP) as nanofillers: comparing the effect of different hydrothermal treatments on the PU/SSMMP nanocomposites properties

“…The increase in the surface area led to an increase on the T onset temperature, for example, PU/Ni-talc nanocomposites with BET value of 135 m 2 g -1 had a T onset of *324°C and a PU/natural talc composite had almost the same value that for pristine PU [28]. These results corroborate with the work of Yousfi et al [27], indicating the exfoliation of the synthetic talc as a probable reason for the augmentation on the thermal stability of the nanocomposites.…”

“…1, the peaks attributed to the SSMMP disappeared in the nanocomposites spectra indicating that the filler was well dispersed and/or exfoliated (stevensitic sheet) into the polymer matrix. Yousfi et al [27] presented similar results for PP/PA6 blends filled with synthetic talc. Also, the diffraction peak associated with the crystalline phase of PU changes when the amount of SSMMP increased as found in literature [31].…”

“…For example, a PU/TiO 2 nanocomposite had a maximum increase of 30 % on the Young's Modulus related to pristine PU [35]. Yousfi et al [27] also related a significant increase of 39.4 % on the Young's Modulus in PP/PA6 blends filled with synthetic talc (1880 MPa for the PP/PA6 blends and 2620 MPa with synthetic talc) and our group [28] noticed a maximum increment to the sample of 1 wt% synthetic Ni-talc, which presented an increase of 5.7 % when compared to pure PU. Due to the film fragility, the Young's modulus of the material with 5 % of SSMMP 24 h was not measured.…”

“…Especially, there are many researches on the effect of talc on the mechanical properties, thermostability, crystallizability and rheology of polypropylene/talc composites [8,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Yousfi et al reported the use of new synthetic talc as nanofiller reinforcement for polypropylene and polyamide 6 systems [8] and polypropylene/polyamide 6 blends [27], and our group noticed the use of new synthetic talc-Ni as filler to produce polyurethane nanocomposites [28].…”

New magnetic nanocomposites: Polyurethane/ Fe3O4-synthetic talc

“…Talc samples with a well-defined chemical composition, high purity, the crystallinity, particle size and the layer thickness control can be obtained by synthetic way [10][11][12]. The literature describe the use of new synthetic talc as nanofillers reinforcement for polyurethane [15,16] polypropylene and polyamide 6 systems [10] and polypropylene/polyamide 6 blends [17]. When the matrix is polyurethane (PU) a good compatibility of both phases filler/polymer is achieved mainly due to the OH groups interaction of the filler, by hydrogen bonding, with the polymeric chain [15,16].…”