A new procedure for processing of epoxy/polyamide blend was explored via solution polymerization of e-caprolactam in N-methylpyrollidone (NMP), which resulted in a suspension of nylon-6 in solvent at room temperature. The suspension was blended with water based epoxy resin using mechanical stirring at room temperature. Several films were prepared from blend by varying the amount of nylon-6 without curing agent. All films were fully characterized for thermal and dynamic mechanical properties using differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. The addition of nylon-6 had a plasticizing effect on epoxy evident by decrease in glass transition temperature (T g ). The reaction between nylon-6 and epoxy was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy by following the characteristic epoxy peak (914 cm 21 ). The growth of nylon-6 crystals in epoxy matrix lead to spherulitic multiphase morphology, which was observed under scanning electron microscope.

Nylon-6/epoxy resin composite with multiphase morphology has been successfully prepared via polymerization of caprolactam in N-methylpyrrolidone using N-acetyl caprolactam as the initiator. This was followed by reactive blending of appropriate amount of the plastic with epoxy resin. The structure of nylon-6 prepared by solution polymerization is predominantly a [200, 020] a crystalline form with c [002] c crystalline form as the minor phase. Subsequently, nylon-6/epoxy composite was prepared at 150 C in a Teflon mold. A remarkable heterogeneous morphology of the fractured surface of the film was observed, consisting of multilayered fiber-like crystals encapsulated in the epoxy resin matrix. Close inspection of the morphology of the composite revealed a preference of nylon-6 to crystallize in the crevices and cracks created in glassy epoxy matrix during processing. The crystals seem to nucleate spontaneously and grow radially into spherulites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:858-866, 2014.

A novel procedure to synthesize in situ clay/nylon-6 composite suspension was explored via anionic solution polymerization. The suspension was efficiently blended with water-based epoxy resin using mechanical stirrer at room temperature. Hence, a 3-component coating system was obtained consisting of nano-clay, nylon-6 and epoxy resin. Large number of coatings and films were prepared with variation in clay and nylon-6 loading. Concentration of clay was found to have profound effect on crystallinity of nylon-6, thereby affecting the overall properties of clay/nylon/epoxy composite. All the films were characterized for thermal and dynamic mechanical behavior using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Lower amount of clay was found to increase the crystallinity of nylon-6 which in turn increased the plasticization of epoxy resin indicated by reduction in T g . A multiphase morphology with distinct amorphous and crystalline zones was observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A remarkable symmetrical morphology with branched dendritic crystal structure was observed for few of the clay/nylon/ epoxy system. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2206-2217, 2016

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