Concept of Tercet Molecular Nanocomposites and Preliminary Studies on [Ppta/(Pa-6/Pa-66)] System of Miscible Blend of Polyamide-6/ Polyamide-6,6 Molecularly Reinforced at Nano Level by Poly(P-Phenylene-Terephthalamide)

Abstract

A tercet molecular nanocomposite is a ternary miscible polymer system in which a miscible blend of two flexible polymers is molecularly reinforced at nanometre level by a rigid-rod macromolecule and the tercet molecular nanocomposite demonstrates properties better than those of the constituent flexible polymers and their blend. A tercet molecular nanocomposite of a blend of flexible polyamide-6 (PA6) and polyamide-6,6 (PA6,6) molecularly reinforced at the nanometre level by a rigid-rod poly-p-phenylene-terephthalamide (PPTA) has been processed by coagulating a sulfuric acid solution of the components in water. This study reports miscibility, structure and properties of PPTA/[PA6/PA6,6] tercet molecular nanocomposites. Miscibility has been established by recording single intermediate glass transition temperatures by differential scanning calorimetry. Homogeneous morphology and dispersion of PPTA in [PA-6/PA-6,6] below 5 nanometre level has been established by scanning electron microscopy. Intermolecular interactions dispersing PPTA in [PA-6/PA-6,6] below the 5 nm level by imparting miscible homogeneous morphology and have been identified by Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy. Improved tensile mechanical properties of the tercet molecular nanocomposite, compared to those of the constituent flexible polymer blend, have been established by universal testing machine.

Synthesis and modification of poly (p‐phenylene terephthalamide) for production of light‐weight hybrid composite armors reinforced with polymer composite nanofiber mats

“…However, misalignment and folding of the nanofibers seem to increase after 3% BPPTA content due to the strong interactions between the polymer constituents. The SEM micrographs of the CNMs exhibit a uniform morphology without any microphase separation indicating a high interfacial bonding strength between the components at a molecular level, which results in a homogeneous phase system 76,77 …”

“…components at a molecular level, which results in a homogeneous phase system. 76,77 The variations observed in the diameter distribution (Figure S9) and the average diameter of nanofiber mats attributed to the changes in the chemical structure, electrical conductivity, and the spinning solution viscosity as a result of BPPTA incorporation at different concentrations. The tendency of composite structures with strong inter-chain hydrogen bridges between the polymer components to form larger structures may have part in the increase of the fiber diameters with BPPTA reinforcement up to 3% concentration.…”