Effect of Attapulgite filler on the properties of Nylon‐6

Nylon‐6/Attapulgite (ATP) composites were prepared by melt blending in a twin screw extruder. Nylon‐6/ATP composites were tested for its mechanical, rheological, thermal and morphological properties. The results have shown drastic improvement in the flexural modulus by 74% at the loading level of 4% of ATP. The tensile strength was also increased at the 3–4% loadings of ATP. The impact strength was doubled even at the 2% loading of ATP. The strength and stiffness of Nylon‐6/ATP composites were both improved significantly in the presence of attapulgite. In addition, the incorporation of ATP gave rise to the increase in the storage modulus. The extensional viscosities were studied and found to increase as the loading level was increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the clay morphology and the dispersion of the attapulgite. SEM revealed the addition of attapulgite showed fibrillar structure of Nylon‐6/ATP composite. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008.