Impact of fillers (short glass fibers and rubber) on the hydrolysis-induced embrittlement of polyamide 6.6

This study deals with the durability of composites based on polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) in a humid environment, and more especially, with the loss of fracture properties. It is known that PA6.6 undergoes plasticization in the presence of water, but hydrolysis also occurs. This hydrolysis leads to a sharp decline in fracture properties in resin. The aim of this study is thus to understand the behavior of two PA6.6-based composites, one containing short glass fibers and the other both glass fibers and a rubber. The results showed the transition from ductile to brittle behavior as a function of hydrolysis time in resin. For composites, the drop in elongation breaking with the macromolecular chain length was linear for all ageing conditions considered here without marked transition. The results presented here can be used for lifetime prediction of PA6.6-based composites in a humid environment.