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Shear and extensional rheometry of PA6 reinforced with polyacrylic nanoparticles

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Abstract

Shear and extensional rheometry was carried out on polyamide 6 (PA6) reinforced with crosslinked polyacrylic nanoparticles (PNPs) with mean size of 8 nm. The PNPs were dispersed into a commercial, injection grade, PA6 matrix by melt extrusion, at a concentration of 3 wt%. Thermal analysis showed that the PNPs did not influence the melting and decomposition temperature of the polymer matrix. However, grafting of maleic anhydride to the PNPs (denoted PNP-g-MA) increased the decomposition temperature. On the other hand, X-ray scattering and small-angle light scattering showed that the degree of crystallinity and crystal size were reduced, relative to the neat PA6, i.e., the PNPs disrupted the ordering of the polymer chains. The shear rheological properties showed that the PA6/PNP nanocomposites exhibited a linear viscoelastic behavior. Small-strain oscillatory shear showed that PA6 exhibited a predominantly viscous behavior. However, addition of PNPs induced a predominantly elastic behavior, as measured by the mechanical damping tan δ (=G″/G′), and increased the zero-shear viscosity. The increase in melt elasticity and viscosity was greater for the PA6/PNP-g-MA nanocomposite. Extensional rheometry experiments demonstrated that when PNPs were added to PA6, they induced smaller extensional viscosity, η ext, values in the matrix, at low strain rates. However, at higher strain rates the PNPs induced a strain hardening behavior. Whereas the neat polymer melt rapidly broke under extensional flow, the PA6/PNP nanocomposites first exhibited lower η ext than the neat PA6, and then η ext rapidly increased before breaking, i.e. a strain hardening behavior. The higher melt elasticity of the molten PA6 nanocomposites appears to arise from a jamming effect promoted by the PNPs.

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Acknowledgments

E Huitrón-Rattinger was supported by a graduate scholarship from the Mexican Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT). Thanks to TA Instruments for enabling access to the Extensional Viscosity Fixture (EVF). This research was supported by CONACyT (Ciencia Basica 2011 program, grant 168095).

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  1. Laboratorio de Nanopolimeros y Coloides, Instituto de Ciencias Fisicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Av. Universidad s/n, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

    Estefania Huitrón-Rattinger & Angel Romo-Uribe

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  1. Estefania Huitrón-Rattinger
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  2. Angel Romo-Uribe
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Correspondence to Angel Romo-Uribe.

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Huitrón-Rattinger, E., Romo-Uribe, A. Shear and extensional rheometry of PA6 reinforced with polyacrylic nanoparticles. Polym. Bull. 70, 2547–2567 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-013-0971-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-013-0971-7

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