Tribological behaviours of nanoclay filled polyamide-6/polypropylene/compatibilizer composite against stainless steel counter-face

In this experimental study, tribological behaviors of nanoclay filled polyamide-6/ Polypropylene (PA6/PP) polymer blend with styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS-g-MA) compatibilizer were studied. Tribological studies were carried out using a pin-on-disc wear test machine under dry sliding conditions. Tribological tests were run at the applied load of 25, 50, 100, and 150N value and the sliding speed of 0.5m/s. The results show that the addition of compatibilizer into the polyamide-6polypropylene blend resulted to enhancement in coefficient of friction and specific wear rate values while montmorillonite 5wt.% nanoclay addition into the PA6/PP-5% SEBS-g-MA blend resulted to an increment in specific wear rate value but decrease in coefficient of friction. Moreover, an optical microscope was used to investigate microstructural properties of polyamide-6/PP/SEBS-g-MA polymer blend and composite.