Comparative study of Polyamide 6 reinforced with glass fibre and montmorillonite

The reinforcement effect of montmorillonite (nanofiller) and chopped glass fibres (microfiller) in the polyamide 6 has been investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimetry, extensometer and Rockwell hardness scale-L tester. MMT is comprised of dioctahedral smectites and is in the shape of platelets with nanometer-scale thickness, whereas GF has large particle size up to several microns. Owing to the polymorphic nature of PA6, both α- and γ-structures were coexisted in PA6/MMT system while solely γ-structure was present in PA6/GF composites. The confining effect of MMT in PA6 was evident from the appearance of abnormal endothermic peak. The mechanical properties were remarkably improved in the presence of both types of fillers; however, GF imparted the super reinforcing effect in the PA6 matrix at the loading of 25 wt%. The tensile modulus was improved by about 460 % in PA6/GF and about 148 % in PA6/MMT composites as compared to neat PA6.