%0 Journal Article
%T Influence of SiC/Si3N4 Hybrid Nanoparticles on Polymer Tensile Properties
%A Vijaya K. Rangari
%A M. Yousuf
%A Shaik Jeelani
%J Journal of Composites
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/462914
%X Nanostructured silicon carbide (SiC)/silicon nitride (Si3N4) hybrid nanoparticles exhibit a high-potential for reinforcement of polymers. In the present investigation, silicon carbide ( -SiC) nanoparticles (~30£¿nm) were sonochemically coated on acicular silicon nitride (~100£¿nm£¿ £¿nm) particles to increase the thermal and mechanical properties of Nylon-6 nanocomposite fibers. To produce Nylon-6/(SiC/Si3N4) nanocomposite fibers, we have followed a two-step process. In the first step, SiC nanoparticles were coated on Si3N4 nanorods using a sonochemical method and Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide surfactant. In the second step, the SiC coated Si3N4 hybrid nanoparticles were blended with Nylon-6 polymer and extruded in the form of nanocomposite polymer fibers. The nanocomposite fibers were uniformly stretched and stabilized using a two-set Godet roll machine. The diameters of the extruded neat Nylon-6 and SiC/Si3N4/Nylon-6 nanocomposite fibers were measured using a scanning electron microscope and then tested for their tensile and thermal properties. These results were compared with the neat Nylon-6 polymer fibers. These results clearly indicate that the as-prepared nanocomposite polymer fibers are much higher in tensile strength (242%) and Young¡¯s modulus (716%) as compared to the neat polymer fibers. 1. Introduction It has always been high interest for the researchers to study the changes in various properties of polymers with the addition of reinforcements. Polymers such as Nylon-6, polypropylene, and LDPE when mixed with an appropriate percentage of nanoparticles as filler materials show significant improvements [1¨C3]. Many studies have been reported on the structural, chemical, and thermal characterization of nylon [4¨C7]. Among thermoplastic polymers, Nylon polymers are widely used materials due to low material cost, low density (approximately 12.5% the weight of bronze, 14.3% the weight of cast iron, and 50% the weight of aluminum), wide range of available properties, corrosion resistance, compound customization, insulation qualities, and good load bearing capacity [8]. Many attempts have been made to improve the properties of Nylons with the use of rubber, silica, clay, hydroxyapatite carbon nanotubes, and fibers [9¨C14]. In these studies, the polymers are blended with appropriate proportions of various shapes and sizes of nanoparticles using various processing techniques to improve mechanical and thermal properties. These materials have been successfully employed in defense, aerospace packing, and electronic and automotive industries. Hence, the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jcomp/2013/462914/