Effect of hygrothermal ageing on morphology and indentation modulus of injection moulded nylon 6/organoclay nanocomposites

The effect of water immersion on the morphology and indentation modulus of injection moulded nylon 6 and its organoclay nanocomposites was investigated. XRD analysis showed that at 70 °C water promoted further crystallization in the nylon matrix and aided the γ- to α-crystal phase transition in the skin region. However, the presence of organoclay deterred this transformation. The combined actions of water and heat (70 °C) did not further degrade nylon 6 and its nanocomposites compared to water ageing at room temperature (25 °C). In fact, there was relative enhancement of the indentation moduli owing to the beneficial morphological changes induced in the nylon matrix. The largest improvements were found in the skin region of the injection moulded bars.