Thermo-oxidative ageing of an organo-modified clay and effects on the properties of PA6 based nanocomposites

In this work a careful investigation on the degradation of an organically modified montmorillonite sample (Cloisite 15A) thermal treated under different atmospheres, namely nitrogen, air and oxygen enriched atmosphere was performed. The exposure time of the thermal treatment ranged between 5 and 300 min. The chemical composition evolution as function of the thermal treatment conditions of the clay organic modifier was monitored by means of combined thermogravimetry/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR). Moreover, the morphological behaviour of treated Cloisite 15A samples as function of the time and of the decomposition atmosphere was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). In order to understand the possible different interactions of neat and degraded modified clay with a polymeric matrix, PA6 based composites containing 5% of clay were prepared in the melt and fully characterized by a rheological, mechanical and morphological point of view. The results showed t...