Creep and physical aging behaviour of PA6 nanocomposites

The creep and physical aging behavior of various types of PA6 nanocomposites and unfilled PA6 are described. After annealing far above T, the samples were quenched to room temperature and tested after various ageing times. The creep compliance shows a significant reduction with the addition of exfoliated layered silicate to the matrix polymer. The shape of the creep curves of the nanocomposites is similar to unfilled PA6 and time-ageing time superposition is possible with all materials. The shift rate for superposition is in the same range, but slightly higher in nanocomposites. The creep behavior of nanocomposites conditioned with an equilibrium amount of moisture and dry samples at elevated temperatures shows that the effect of nanofillers is much stronger under these conditions. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.