Structure and property study of nylon-6/clay nanocomposite fiber

The crystal structures of nylon-6 and nylon-6/clay fibers were investigated on annealing and drawing. Annealing increased the gamma-crystalline form of both fibers, as indicated by the DSC curves, and its effect was dominant in nylon-6/clay fiber. On drawing, the gamma-crystalline form was easily converted into the et form in nylon-6, whereas it was still observed at a relatively high spin-draw ratio in nylon-6/clay fiber. However, although the alpha-crystal form was dominant in nylon-6, the gamma-crystal form was dominant in nylon-6/clay with annealing and drawing, on the basis of the XRD data. The fast crystallization rate of nylon-6/clay compared with pure nylon-6 was confirmed, on the basis of the Avrami exponent. The initial modulus of nylon-6/clay fiber was 30% higher than the neat nylon-6 fiber. The reinforcing effect of clay on the dynamic storage modulus was observed. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.