Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology Journal of Particle Science and Technology 2423-4087 8 1 2022 05 01 The effect of nanoclay on the creation of clusters of polyamide 6 microfibrils 25 37 1224 10.22104/jpst.2022.5914.1216 EN Roya Mashayekhi Polymer and Textile Department, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran Morteza Ehsani Polymer and Textile Department, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute (IPPI), Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-1331-3666 Shervin Ahmadi Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute (IPPI), Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-1038-5146 Ramin Khajavi Polymer and Textile Department, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran Hossein Ali Khonakdar Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute (IPPI), Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-7759-8499 Journal Article 2022 10 21 The PA6/clay nanocomposites were prepared during in-situ anionic ring-opening polymerization (AROP) via reactive melt blending in a Hakke internal mixer. Then, the samples were characterized using FT-IR, DSC, DMTA, rheometer, XRD, SEM/EDX/elemental mapping, TEM, and HT-GPC to study the effects of Cloisite 15A on PA6 properties. The results showed that nanoclay caused a decrease in the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), crystallinity, <em>T<sub>m</sub></em>, <em>T<sub>g</sub></em>, and tan <em>δ</em> of the samples. However, it increased the Young′s modulus and stress rupture of the samples. Furthermore, the nanocomposites showed a pseudo-solid behavior because of the reinforcing effect of the nanoparticles. Additionally, <em>α </em>crystals were not seen in the samples with 1 and 3 % nanoclay; however, <em>γ </em>crystals were observable in those samples. Also, nanoclay decreased PA6 viscosity and increased dispersity and residual monomers in the nanocomposite samples. The nanoclays exfoliated in the sample have 0.5 % nanoparticles, but they were intercalated by more loading in the PA6 matrix. Moreover, the PA6 microfibrils were observed as sporadic and clay-centered clusters in the SEM micrographs of the pure and nanocomposite samples, respectively. Therefore, the clustering of PA6 microfibrils in the matrix during <em>in-situ</em> AROP is considered a novelty in current research. Polyamide 6 Nanoclay nanocomposites Clusters In-Situ Polymerization https://jpst.irost.ir/article_1224_68d13cf26c4b4f4f932e3eff990093ba.pdf