Obtaining of Polymer Films from Nylon 6/Bentonite Clay Nanocomposites: Structural Characterization

Abstract

The nanocomposites are hybrid materials where at least one of the components has nanometric dimensions and in the same way as traditional composites are formed, one of the components is the matrix in which nanoparticles are dispersed. One of the possibilities of applications of nanocomposites is to obtain polymer films for applications in the barrier, or separation promoted by the dispersion of the clay lamellae. In this work, nanocomposites of nylon 6/bentonite clay were obtained by melt intercalation. The used clay was the Brasgel PA, and quaternary ammonium salt was Praepagen-HY, used in organophilization of the clay. By XRD, it was observed the disappearance of the characteristic peak of clay, and this can be facilitate the possible exfoliation of clay in the produced films from the nanocomposite. By SEM, it was observed, an apparently dense layer with no pores.