MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF NYLON IN NYLON 6-C LAY HYBRID

The molecular structure of nylon in nylon 6-clay hybrid (NCH), in whic h clay silicates were dispersed uniformly, was analyzed using a field desorption mass spectrometer. The main peaks of fragment ions from the mass spectrum of NCH, were classified into ion groups. Two possible m olecular structures of NCH were postulated supposing different locatio ns of the copolymerized nylon 12 monomer unit (12-aminolauric acid) wh ich was intercalated in the clay prior to the polymerization to enhanc e the miscibility between the clay and nylon 6. We compared the experi mental fragment ion groups with those from the expected structures. Fr om these results, it became clear that nylon 12 monomer units did not exist only at the end of nylon 6, but also occur randomly along the ny lon 6 main chain, NCH without having any 12-aminolauric acid units was proved to have improved thermal properties.