Transcrystalline morphology of nylon 6 on the surface of aramid fibers

• Published in: Polymer international 2004-11, Vol.53 (11), p.1672-1676
• Main Authors: Shi, HF, Zhao, Y, Dong, X, He, CC, Wang, DJ, Xu, DF
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; aramid fiber; Exact sciences and technology; nylon 6; Physicochemistry of polymers; polarized optical microscopy; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; transcrystallization
• ISSN: 0959-8103; 1097-0126
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.1501

In this paper, the isothermal crystallization of nylon 6 in the presence of Kevlar 129 fiber was investigated by polarized optical microscopy (POM). The formation of a transcrystalline domain was found to be mainly controlled by crystallization conditions, such as the temperature of the isothermal crystallization, residual time at melting temperature and the cooling rate of the melt. The nucleation rate of nylon 6 on the fibers was mainly affected by the crystallization temperature. The interfacial transcrystallinity of nylon 6 occurred on the surface of Kevlar 129 fiber in the temperature range 130–190 °C. The reason for the formation of interfacial transcrystalline morphology is discussed from the molecular level, based on the understanding of the packing mode of nylon 6 chains around fibers and the interaction between matrix and fibers. It was found that the lattice matching and hydrogen‐bonding between nylon 6 and poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) crystals play an important role in the epitaxial crystallization. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry