Structure and properties of PA 6/POSS nano-hybrids

Poly amide (PA)6/epoxidized polyhedral olygomeric silsesquioxanes(POSS) hybrids were prepared via melt blending method. The results show that the addition of POSS can improve the low temperature impact properties of PA 6 to some extent and enhance the tensile strength of PA 6 in case the POSS mass content is below 3%. Epoxidized POSS can significantly ameliorate the dielectric properties of the PA 6, e.g., the dielectric constant of PA 6 matrix decreased from 3.40 to 2.75 when adding 3% of POSS by mass. Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and X-ray diffractometry(XRD) analyses reveal that PA 6/POSS hybrids crystallize preponderantly in α form during the course of crystallization. The variation in POSS content brings about little influence on the crystallization behavior of PA 6 in the experimental range of the present study.