Effect of Commercial Nano-Ca3(PO4)2 on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polyamide Composites

Polyamide/Ca3(PO4)2 nanocomposites were prepared via melt intercalation on twin-screw extruder. Different particle sizes (21, 17, 11nm) of Ca3(PO4)2 were synthesized by in situ deposition technique and its sizes were confirmed on X-ray difractometer. Amount of loading of nano-Ca3(PO4)2 in the polyamide was ranges in the 1 to 4-wt%. Properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, and flame retardency were studied. These results were then compared with commercial Ca3(PO4)2 filled polyamide composites. Improvement in properties was due to uniform dispersion of nano-Ca3(PO4)2 and commercial Ca3(PO4)2. Moreover, thermal property like degradation, weight loss was studied on TGA. Extent of dispersion of nano-Ca3(PO4)2 was studied along with cracks generated during tensile testing using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Nano-Ca3(PO4)2 was found to be thermally more stable compared to that of commercial Ca3(PO4)2. Besides that, the shape and sizes of nano-Ca3(PO4)2 was confirmed on transmission electron microscope (TEM).