Morphology development and size control of PA6 nanofibers from PA6/CAB polymer blends

摘要

Polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibers were prepared by the melt blending extrusion process of PA6/cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) immiscible polymer blends. The average diameter of obtained PA6 nanofibers was 95-190 nm which could be controlled by varying the process conditions, such as blend ratio was 10/90-40/60, shear rate was 10 and 80 s(-1)and two different blending equipments, and the effect of adding graphene for the diameters was also discussed. In addition, and the formation mechanism of nanofibers was studied by viscoelastic analysis and collecting samples at four different sites along the extruder. The morphology of PA6 dispersed phase in CAB matrix included three stages: PA6 pellets changed into sheets or ribbons, the formation of microfibers and size reduction, the size of microfibers continued refinement to nanofibers. The morphology development of dispersed phase may be postponed by blend ratio. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42184.