Solid State NMR Investigation of Paramagnetic Nylon-6 Clay Nanocomposites 2. Measurement of Clay Dispersion, Crystal Stratification and Stability of Organic Modifiers

Published

October 1, 2001

Author(s)

David L. VanderHart, A Asano, Jeffrey W. Gilman

Abstract

In this second paper of a 2-part series dealing mainly with NMR characterization of nylon-6/clay nanocomposites (NnCs) having nominally 5 mass percent clay, measurements with application to processing are featured. The paramagnetism of the montmorillonite clays, discussed in the first paper, allowed us to use the corresponding spin-diffusion-moderated reduction in longitudinal proton relaxation time, T₁^η, for two purposes, namely, to rank the quality of clay dispersion in NnC families with the same formulation and to investigate morphological stratification of the nylon-6 α- and γ-crystallites with respect to the clay surface. In a group of 3 NnCs with the same formulation but different melt-blending conditions, variations in T₁^η correlated well with previously published TEM assessments of the quality of the clay dispersion. Also, in a set of samples from an injection-molded, in-situ-polymerized NnC disk where strong variations in α/γ ratios were observed, it was found that these differences did not arise from processing-induced inhomogeneities in clay concentration; rather, variations in cooling histories throughout the disk was the more probable cause. In these latter samples, well-defined stratification of the γ-phase (versus the α-phase) crystallites nearer the clay surface did not occur until after annealing at 214 degrees C. We also examined the dependence of NnC T₁^η s on the static field of the measurement. It is clear that the magnitude of the paramagnetic contribution to T₁^η is a function of field and of Fe⁺³ concentration in the clay. Trends support the notion that spin-exchange interactions between the electrons on different Fe⁺³ ions largely define the spectral density of magnetic fluctuations near the clay surface. Some attention was, therefore, given to optimizing Fe⁺³ concentrations for best NnC characterization. Finally, we investigated the chemical stability of a particular organic modifier (OM) which is used to pretreat the clay prior to melt blending. The OM, dimethyl, dehydrogenated-tallow ammonium ion, was followed in the process of blending this modified clay with nylon-6 at 240 degrees C. It was found that when such a clay surface was exposed to the nylon-6 during blending, most of the OM on that surface decomposed, releasing a free amine with one methyl and 2 tallow substituents. However, subsequent melting at 240 degreesC produced no further decomposition. The implication is that the combination of temperature and shear stress in blending causes decomposition, not just temperature alone. The susceptibility to chemical decomposition varied strongly with the OM. Ironically, extensive decomposition of the OM did not result in poor mixing; in fact, as judged by T₁^η, the NnC with the best dispersion of clay also had the most extensively degraded OM. The implications of this degradation for the physical properties have not been explored in detail.

Citation

Chemistry of Materials

Volume

13

Issue

No. 10

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

annealing, clay, decomposition, montmorillonite, morphology, nanocomposite, NMR, nylon-6, organic modifier

Citation

VanderHart, D. , Asano, A. and Gilman, J. (2001), Solid State NMR Investigation of Paramagnetic Nylon-6 Clay Nanocomposites 2. Measurement of Clay Dispersion, Crystal Stratification and Stability of Organic Modifiers, Chemistry of Materials, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=851930 (Accessed April 19, 2024)