Clay distribution and crystalline structure evolution in polyamide 6/montmorillonite composites prepared by activated anionic polymerization

Polymers and Related Composites via Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactams: Recent Developments and Future Trends

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of polymers and related (nano)composites produced via anionic ring opening polymerization (AROP) of lactams. It was aimed at surveying and showing the important research and development results achieved in this field mostly over the last two decades. This review covers the chemical background of the AROP of lactams, their homopolymers, copolymers, and in situ produced blends. The composites produced by AROP were grouped into nanocomposites, discontinuous fiber, continuous fiber, textile fabric, and self-reinforced composites. The manufacturing techniques were introduced and the most recent developments highlighted. Based on this state-of-art survey some future trends were deduced and as their "driving forces" novel and improved manufacturing techniques identified.

Preparation and characterization of poly (phenylene sulfide) nanocomposites with both silica and clay fillers

Poly (phenylene sulfide) (PPS)/silica (SiO2)/organophilic montmorillonite OMMT(clay) nanocomposites are prepared and two kinds of nanofillers of different dimensions, the plate-like OMMT(clay) and globe-like SiO2, are dispersed through their “filler–filler” interaction in melt processing. In PPS/SiO2/clay system, strong filler–filler interaction is established by different responses to shear flow of inorganic clay and SiO2, thus the well dispersion of nanofillers is achieved successfully. However, the OMMT platelets are prone to be entangled by PPS molecular chains in PPS/SiO2/OMMT composites due to the extremely low interfacial tension between PPS and OMMT, which blocks the interaction between OMMT and SiO2. The result reveals two key points in realizing well dispersion of nanofillers in polymer by establishing filler–filler interaction in processing, namely, the distinct responses to shear flow of nanofillers provide an important condition for filler–filler interaction, while the direct collision between each other is another key point to successfully realize this interaction.