Elaboration and characterization of novel polyamide-12-layered titanoniobates nanocomposites

Abstract : This article describes the synthesis and the characterization of a polyamide-12 filled with a nanostructured organic/inorganic titanoniobate hybrid material. The pristine oxide KTiNbO5 has been successfully organomodified by N-alkyl amines via an acido-basic reaction after a cationic exchange step as shown by x-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscope study and scanning transmission electron microscope observations have been used to describe the change of morphology of the nanofillers before and after processing; the micronic aggregates were changed into single sheets and dispersed in the polymer. Thermomechanical properties of the composites have been determined, and their analyses with structure-properties models are consistent with the exfoliation of the organomodified titanoniobates.