Abstract

In this study, a series of elastomeric nanocomposites based on specific amounts of polyamide6 (PA6)/chloroprene rubber (CR) blends which are compatibilized with ethylene propylene diene monomer-grafted-maleic anhydride (EPDM-g-MA) and different amounts of graphene oxide (GO) were prepared with melt mixing method. The effect of compatibilizer and reinforcement concentration in the PA6/CR blend matrix was investigated using theoretical and experimental analysis. Dispersion of nanoplatelets within rubber blend matrix was proven with transmission electron microscopy and field emission-scanning electron microscopy. The modified microstructure of samples showed the significant effect of EPDM-g-MA and GO on the size reduction of CR droplets in the PA6 continuous phase. The results from differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis revealed the effect of EPDM-g-MA and GO as an effective nucleating agent in PA6-enriched GO/CR (PA6EGO/CR). The findings obtained from thermogravimetric analysis displayed that the GO in the presence of an EPDM-g-MA as a compatibilizer can cause a higher thermal stability in PA6EGO/CR. From mechanical properties, by adding a compatibilizer to the PA6/CR blend, the tensile strength changed from 39.0 to 45.1, the Young's modulus altered from 522.2 to 716.0 and the elongation at break changed from 246.8 to 222.2. While incorporation of 5 phr of GO to the compatibilized blend, the tensile strength increased by 25.2, the Young's modulus increased by 36.6 and the elongation at break decreased by 20. The Christensen–Lo model used for analyzing the stiffness of PA6EGO/EPDM-g-MA/CR with emphasis on the influence of the interphase region to predict the effect of various loadings of GO and EPDM-g-MA of Young's modulus. The rheology and creep tests showed a significant effect of EPDM-g-MA and GO content on the rheology behavior of nanocomposites. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC