Water absorption and hygrothermal aging behaviors of polyamide66/maleated polypropylene/nanoclay nanocomposites

Polyamide66/maleated polypropylene/treated nanoclay nanocomposites (PA66/PP) containing maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) were prepared by melt mixing and exposed to hygrothermal aging at three different temperatures, that is, 23, 60, and 90 degrees C. The analysis was focused on the water diffusion kinetics and physical changes induced by the hygrothermal degradation. The water absorption kinetics of the PA66/PP/nanoclay nanocomposites at immersion temperature of 23 and 60 degrees C conforms to Fick's law. The equilibrium water absorption (M-m) and diffusion coefficient (D) values are dependent on the nanoclay content and immersion temperatures. For all investigated temperatures, the diffusion coefficient was found to decrease as function of nanoclay loading. A relationship between temperature and diffusion coefficient was also established.