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Chain Extension of Polyamide-6 & Polyamide-6/Organoclay Nanocomposites. Control of thermal degradation of polyamide-6/organoclay nanocomposites during extrusion using a novel chain extender

Tuna, Basak
Publication Date
2016
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Benkreira, Hadj
Kelly, Adrian L.
Keywords
Nanocomposite; Layered silicates; Extrusion; Polyamide-6; Thermal stability; Chain extender; Rheology
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Creative Commons License
The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.
Peer-Reviewed
Open Access status
Accepted for publication
Institution
University of Bradford
Department
Faculty of Engineering and Informatics
Awarded
2016
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PhD Thesis
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Abstract
Novel solutions to offset thermal degradation of polyamide-6 (PA-6) and organoclay (organically modified layered silicates) nanocomposites during melt compounding have been investigated. In this research, a novel chain extender (Joncryl ADR 3400) has been used to improve thermal stability of PA-6 and PA- 6/organoclay nanocomposites during melt compounding. The materials were compounded using a linear twin extruder and various laboratory scale mixers. The effects of organoclay and chain extender were studied using both processing methods. In order to replicate large scale production used in industry, a comprehensive plan of experimental work was carried out under different processing conditions (extrusion temperature and screw speed), organoclay and chain extender loading using a linear twin screw extruder. Rheology, mechanical and thermal properties were analysed and selected samples were also characterised by TEM and FTIR. Process induced degradation of PA-6 during the melt compounding was found to have significant influence on the rheological and mechanical properties. Rheological and mechanical characterisation clearly showed showed that incorporation of the chain extender minimised thermal degradation of PA-6 and nanocomposites during melt processing. Visual analysis of selected nanocomposites using TEM confirmed that chain extender increased the dispersion of nanoclays in the PA- 6 matrix. The crystallinity of the PA-6 was slightly affected by addition of organoclay and chain extender. The samples obtained by linear twin screw extrusion showed higher rheological properties than the samples from laboratory scale mixers suggesting better mixing and less thermal degradation during extrusion.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/14583
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Type
Thesis
Qualification name
PhD
Notes
The full text was made available at the end of the embargo, 31st Dec 2019.