In this work, thermal behaviour of both polyamide-6 and polyamide-6 clay na
nocomposite is studied. The Invariant Kinetic Parameters method enables mod
elling of the thermal degradation. The role played by oxygen during thermal
degradation of polyamide-6 and polyamide-6 clay nanocomposite is investiga
ted. The efficiency of the self-protective coatings which form during the p
yrolysis and the thermo-oxidative degradation of polyamide-6 clay nanocompo
site is discussed. The properties of these coatings are related to the prev
iously observed improved fin properties of polyamide-6 clay nanocomposite a
s compared with polyamide-6. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese
rved.