Polymer-based nanocomposites: Overview, applications and perspectives

Polyamide 6 and pristine montmorillonite have been melt blended in an extruder and water was injected into the melt in order to produce polyamide-based nanocomposites. The pristine clay was found to be exfoliated and dispersed homogenously in the polyamide. A mechanism explaining the formation of such nanocomposites is presented. Concentrated systems were achieved and redispersed in polypropylene by reactive processing. It is shown that, by this way, polyamide acts as a “primary” compatibiliser, with the maleic anhydride modified polyolefin playing the role of a “secondary” compatibiliser.