Effects of Hybrid POSS Nanoparticles on the Properties of Thermoplastic Elastomer-Toughened Polyamide 6.

In this study, polyamide 6 (PA6)/thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) blends were prepared to decrease the notch sensitivity of PA6 for automotive applications, and the morphological, rheological, mechanical, and thermal properties of PA6/TPE blends, which are partially miscible or immiscible depending on the TPE ratio, were significantly improved in the existence of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles with multiple reactive epoxy groups as compatibilizers. An unstable phase morphology was obtained with the addition of TPE into PA6 without POSS nanoparticles, whereas interfacial interactions between phases in the presence of POSS were enhanced as a result of a significant decrease in the average particle size from 1.39 to 0.