High Surface Area Nano-Boehmite as Effective Nano-Filler for Preparation of Boehmite-Polyamide-6 Nanocomposites

Modified high surface area nano-boehmite particles (mB), as effective nano-filler, and polyamide-6, as a polymer matrix, were used for preparation of new nanocomposites. In this regards, bulk interaction method was used for such an objective and 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane was selected as a modifier. In this method, the modified boehmite-polyamide-6 nanocomposites (mB-PA6 NCs) were prepared under reflux condition and sonication subsequently. The prepared novel NCs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed an increase in onset of decomposition temperature for the NCs to that of pristine polyamide-6. Furthermore, as the amount of mB was increased the onset of decomposition temperature shifts more toward higher temperatures. However, TEM images of mB-PA6 NCs display exactly and clearly that mB particles are present in the quantum dots scale in PA6 matrix.