Effects of LiCl on crystallization, thermal, and mechanical properties of polyamide 6/wood fiber composites

In the presented study, lithium chloride (LiCl) was used as a modifier to reduce the melting point of polyamide 6 (PA6) and low melting point PA6/wood fiber composites (LPA6/WFC) were prepared with a hot‐press machine. Non‐isothermal crystallization analysis revealed that as little as 3 wt% LiCl decreased the crystallinity of LPA6/WFC from 21.43% to approximately 10% and reduced the melting point of composites from above 220°C to below 200°C, hence the composites can be produced industrially as well as severe degradation of wood fibers can be avoided. Both LiCl and wood fibers increased the glass transition temperature (Tg) of LPA6/WFC, and the Tg of the composites can reach up to 83.2°C, indicating that composites subjected to high temperature circumstances can still retain good dimensional stability and rigidity. In addition, the composites exhibited good mechanical properties, revealed by a flexural strength of the composites of up to 92 MPa. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1574–E1580, 2018.