One‐pot synthesis of nylon 6–clay hybrid

Abstract

Abstract Nylon 6–clay hybrid is a molecular composite of nylon 6 and uniformly dispersed silicate layers of montmorillonite. One‐pot synthesis of the hybrid was carried out by the following procedures. Montmorillonite was dispersed in water, and then ε‐caprolactam, acid (phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, benzenesulfonic acid, isophthalic acid, trichloroacetic acid, or acetic acid), and 6‐aminocaproic acid were added to the dispersion. The mixtures were reacted at 260°C for 6 h, yielding the nylon 6–clay hybrids (1potNCHs). X‐ray diffraction revealed that the silicate layers of 1potNCH by phosphoric acid were uniformly dispersed in the nylon 6 matrix. The 1potNCH had excellent mechanical properties. The strength and the modulus of the hybrid increased compared with previously reported nylon 6–clay hybrid (NCH) synthesized by montmorillonite intercalated with 12‐aminolauric acid. The heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the 1potNCH was 160°C, which was 8°C higher than that of NCH. In other 1potNCHs, montmorillonite had a smaller effect on the increase of those properties, and interlayer spacing of montmorillonite was observed at ca. 20 Å. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.