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Morphology and structure of nylon‐6 crystallized in epoxy resin matrix
Author(s) -
Vyas Aniket,
Iroh Jude O.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.23616
Subject(s) - epoxy , materials science , caprolactam , nylon 6 , composite material , morphology (biology) , composite number , polymerization , composite epoxy material , nucleation , polymer , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , chemistry , biology , genetics
Nylon‐6/epoxy resin composite with multiphase morphology has been successfully prepared via polymerization of caprolactam in N ‐methylpyrrolidone using N ‐acetyl caprolactam as the initiator. This was followed by reactive blending of appropriate amount of the plastic with epoxy resin. The structure of nylon‐6 prepared by solution polymerization is predominantly α [200, 020] α crystalline form with γ [002] γ crystalline form as the minor phase. Subsequently, nylon‐6/epoxy composite was prepared at 150°C in a Teflon mold. A remarkable heterogeneous morphology of the fractured surface of the film was observed, consisting of multilayered fiber‐like crystals encapsulated in the epoxy resin matrix. Close inspection of the morphology of the composite revealed a preference of nylon‐6 to crystallize in the crevices and cracks created in glassy epoxy matrix during processing. The crystals seem to nucleate spontaneously and grow radially into spherulites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:858–866, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers