Effect of nanoclay reinforcement on tensile and tribo behaviour of Nylon 6

Polymer nanocomposites are particle-filled polymers in which at least one dimension of the dispersed particles is in the nanometer range. Dispersing nanosize particles in a polymer matrix induces superior mechanical properties compared to traditional macro fillers. Nanolevel reinforcement also affects the tribological properties and needs to be clearly understood before using in practical applications. Friction and wear characteristics of Nylon 6 nanocomposites under dry sliding conditions are reported in this paper. Nylon 6 with 5% organoclay was prepared by melt intercalation technique. The tensile behaviour is evaluated according to ASTM standards. A pin-on-disc type tribometer is used for evaluating the friction and wear behaviour. It is found that the Nylon 6 nanocomposites have superior tribological properties than unfilled polymer. Formation of uniform tenacious transfer layer by Nylon 6 nanocomposite on the counterface contributes to the reduction in coefficient of friction and specific wear rate. Nylon Nancomposites exhibited high wear resistance compared with the neat Nylon. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.