Natural silica fiber as reinforcing filler of nylon 6

Short silica fiber (SF) content on the mechanical and morphological properties of composites based on nylon 6 and rubber-toughened nylon 6 matrices was examined. Binary nylon 6/SF and ternary [nylon 6/EPDM-g-MA (ethylene–propylene–diene grafted with maleic anhydride)/SF] composites containing 0–20 wt% SF were formulated. The flexural modulus increased with the SF content at all fiber compositions investigated; however, the value of this property gradually diminished when 20 wt% rubber was added to the polymer. Notched Izod impact strength of 80/20 nylon 6/EPDM-g-MA blend was reduced up to 50% with the addition of 5 wt% SF. However, these composites still retained good stiffness and toughness and presented a good interfacial adhesion between the phases. The results suggest that silica fibers can be employed as an alternative reinforcement of nylon 6 matrices, resulting in materials with useful properties.