Rheological and morphological behaviors of polyamide 6/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene/nanoclay nanocomposites

In this study, the effect of nanoclay on the rheological and morphological properties of polyamide 6 (PA6)/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) blends was investigated. The scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that with increment in the nanoclay content, the dispersed phase droplets size and their polydispersity index decreased, and the finer and more uniform dispersed phase was obtained. The transmission electron microscopy micrographs of nanocomposites indicated well-dispersed nanoclay tactoids in the polymer matrix produced by exfoliation of the nanoclay in the polymeric blends. Dynamic strain sweep experiments showed that the extent of the linear viscoelastic region is sensitive to the nanoclay content and compatibilizer. With increasing nanoclay content in the blend, the extent of the linear viscoelastic region decreased. On the other hand, the rheological measurements revealed that the nanoclay content has a significant effect on the moduli and complex viscosity of the blends. These results have indicated that with increasing nanoclay content the storage modulus ( G′), loss modulus ( G′′) and complex viscosity ( η*) increased. In addition, the results of creep experiments revealed that with the addition of compatibilizer (polyethylene octene elastomer grafted with maleic anhydride) and nanoclay to PA6/ABS blends, creep and recovery strain, over time, decreased remarkably and the recovery percentage increased. It was concluded that there is a good conformity between the results obtained from morphological and rheological investigations.