Effect of Polyamide 66 on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Post-Industrial Waste Polyamide 6

Post-industrial waste (PIW) polyamide 6 is successfully used in lieu of commercial virgin polyamide 6, in several automotive applications. The presence of polyamide 66 in the final formulation may affect the mechanical and thermal properties of the PIW polyamide 6 materials. Using unreinforced polyamide 6 from PIW and commercial sources, it was found that the addition of polyamide 66 (below 10 wt.%) lowered the crystallization rate and crystallinity level of all polyamide 6 materials. The thermal and mechanical properties of glass fiber (GF) reinforced PIW polyamide 6 compounds with and without polyamide 66 were also studied. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that reinforced materials without polyamide 66 had a higher level of crystallinity. Furthermore, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that reinforced compounds without polyamide 66 also had a faster storage modulus buildup immediately after injection molding. Reinforced PIW polyamide 6 compounds without polyamide 66 also exhibited higher tensile and higher vibration weld strengths as well as a thicker heat affected zone (HAZ) than those with polyamide 66, leading to the conclusion that polyamide 66 had a detrimental effect on crystallinity level and consequently on the mechanical properties of GF-reinforced PIW polyamide 6 materials.