Properties of polypropylene/polyamide nanocomposites prepared by melt processing with a PP-g-MAH compatibilizer

This article presents the mechanical properties, fire retardancy behavior and the morphology of polypropylene/polyamide66 blends compatibilized with PP-g-MAH and modified with nanoclays. All PP/PA66 formulations modified with untreated and treated nanoclays were prepared by using internal mixer and single screw extruder followed by injection molding. Maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAH-g-PP) was used as the compatibilizer and the nanoclays content was varied between 0 and 8 wt.%. The mechanical and flammability properties of PP/PA66 nanocomposites were examined. Also the structure of PP/PA66 nanocomposites has been characterized by the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the X-ray diffraction (XRD).The obtained results indicate that the incorporation of nanoclay has a significant effect on the strength of PP/PA66 nanocomposites. Furthermore, it was found that SEM and XRD results revealed the intercalation, exfoliation of nanaclays of nanocomposites and the flame retardancy properties were improved significantly. In addition a good balance of impact strength and flame retardancy was obtained for PP/PA66 nanocomposites in the presence of PP-g-MA compatibilizer.

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► The preparation of PP-g-MAH as a compatibilizer was successful.
► MFI results evidence the effect of clay treatment.
► The impact properties of the modified nanocomposites were improved in the presence of treated nanoclays.
► XRD and SEM results revealed the formation of nanocomposites as the nanoclay was intercalated and exfoliated.
► Very important increase in the flammability time was obtained with the treated clay.