Influence of layered aluminoborophosphate on flame retardance, crystallization behaviors and mechanical properties of polyamide 66 systems

A layered aluminoborophosphate(LABP-DDA) was hydrothermally synthesized using dodecylamine as a structure-directing agent, and was added into polyamide 66(PA66) to obtain nanocomposites, PA66/LABP-DDA, via melt intercalation method. The characterization results of transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicate that LABP-DDA has been successfully exfoliated into nano-layers of PA66 matrix. The unstable γ phase of PA66 was found in the composites with the help of X-ray diffraction(XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). The heterogeneous nucleation effect of LABP-DDA resulted in an increasement of about 10 °C in melting temperature and an increasement of about 7% in crystallinity when compared with those of neat PA66. The introduction of LABP-DDA did not significantly affect the toughness and strength of PA66. The results of flammability test indicate that LABP-DDA possesses positive synergistic flame retarding effect in the presence of melamine polyphosphate(MPP) and the 77%PA66/(23–x)%MPP/x%LABP-DDA(x=1, 2) samples in thickness of 1.6 mm reached from Fail to V-1 rating based on UL94, compared with 77%PA66/23%MPP.