Effect of dendrimer‐like PAMAM grafted attapulgite on the microstructure and morphology of Nylon‐6

The effect of dendrimer‐like polyamidoamine grafted attapulgite (ATP‐PAMAM) on the microstructure and morphology of Nylon‐6 (PA6) was investigated. The ATP‐PAMAM nanoparticles were prepared by treating attapulgite (ATP) with heat and acid followed by grafting with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) molecules, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dispersion state in formic acid. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis result indicated that the grafting modification was occurred on the surface of fibrous crystals and did not shift the crystal structure of ATP. PA6/ATP‐PAMAM (G2.0) nanocomposites with different modified ATP content were prepared by melt compounding in a twin screw extruder. XRD measurements suggested that the intensity of diffraction peak of α crystalline form of PA6 decreased gradually as the inclusion of ATP‐PAMAM(G2.0) into the PA6 matrix, while that of γ crystalline form increased gradually. The results of molau experiment and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed not only a uniform dispersion of ATP‐PAMAM(G2.0) in the PA6 matrix but also a strong interfacial adhesion between them. Mechanical investigation (by tensile test) showed an obvious improvement in the presence of surface modified ATP. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:627–635, 2014.