HIGH DISPERSION OF SYNTHETIC MICA IN POLY AMIDE-6 MATRIX THROUGH HYDROLYSIS OF EPSILON-CAPROLACTAM UNDER HIGH-PRESSURE

Nanocomposites with highly dispersed mica layers in the polyamide 6 ma trix were prepared by hydrolysis and polymerization of epsilon-caprola ctam (epsilon-CL) under high pressure (19 kg/cm(2)) in the presence of expandable synthetic mica (NaMg2.5S4O10F2). Silicate layers of the st arting mica were cleaved and highly dispersed into the polyamide 6 mat rix, which was supposed to occur through the intercalation of epsilon- CL cations by exchanging with Na+ in the starting mica and then polyme rization of epsilon-CL between the silicate layers. High bending stren gth and modulus of these nanocomposites were obtained as a result of c leaved thin layers with a high aspect ratio and the high dispersion.