Effects of SEBS-g-MA on tribological behaviour of nylon 66/organoclay nanocomposites

The tribological behaviour of nylon 66, nylon 66/organoclay nanocomposites and nylon 66/(SEBS-g-MA+organoclay) nanocomposites was studied by means of a pin-on-disk apparatus. The morphologies of the transfer films and the worn surfaces of specimens were observed with an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Wear of all of the specimens increases with increasing load; meanwhile the coefficient of friction almost linearly decreases. Wear of nylon 66/organoclay is larger than that of nylon 66. Adding SEBS-g-MA to the nylon 66/organoclay improves the wear resistance. The coefficient of friction of nylon 66/organoclay is slightly less than that of nylon 66 at various loads. The coefficient of friction of nylon 66/(SEBS-g-MA+organoclay) is the lowest at every load. If the transfer film is thin, uniform and continuous, the wear loss and the coefficient of friction are low.