Novel Sepiolite-based Poly(Amide-imide) Nanocomposites: Preparation and Properties

Novel sepiolite-based poly(amide-imide) nanocomposites were prepared by in-situ polymerization via polycondensation of a diamine containing amide groups with hexafluoropropane dianhydride. The process involved dispersion of sepiolite in poly(amic acid) solution followed by thermal imidization to get ultimate nanocomposites. The morphology, thermal and mechanical performances of nanocomposites with various sepiolite contents were studied. Nanoparticles were homogenously dispersed throughout the matrix with 50-65nm size range. Due to such dispersion, poly(amide-imide)-sepiolite nanocomposite films exhibited improvements on the thermal-mechanical properties. The best results arose from favorable miscibility between polymer and sepiolite in the nanocomposites when 3wt.% nanoparticles were introduced into poly(amide-imide) matrix.