Mechanical and thermal behaviour of polyamide 6/silicon carbide nanocomposites toughened with maleated styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene elastomer

Polyamide 6 (PA6) based nanocomposites reinforced with 1–7 wt% silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiCp) and toughened with 20 wt% maleated styrene–ethylene–butylene– stryrene (SEBS‐g‐MA) were fabricated by melt blending followed by injection moulding. The effects of SiCp addition on thermal and mechanical properties of such nanocomposites were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry tests showed that SiCp act as effective nucleators for the crystallization of PA6 and enhance the degree of crystallinity. Mechanical measurements revealed that SiCp addition improves the Young's modulus and yield strength of PA6/SEBS‐g‐MA 80/20 blend at the expenses of tensile ductility and impact strength. The essential work of fracture (EWF) approach under tensile mode was employed to characterize the fracture toughness of PA6/SEBS‐g‐MA/SiCp nanocomposites. EWF results indicated that SiCp addition reduces both the specific EWF and specific non‐essential plastic work of fracture. Thus SiCp additions were detrimental to the fracture toughness of PA6/SEBS‐g‐MA 80/20 blends.