A COST-EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR SYNTHESIZING MAGNESIUM BORATE NANORODS AND ITS MECHANICAL PROPERTY FOR REINFORCED NYLON-6 COMPOSITES

Abstract

Magnesium borate ( Mg 2 B 2 O 5) nanorods were synthesized by a two-step process, including solution-chemical technology and a ternary-flux method, using concentrated seawater and H 3 BO 3 as raw materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the sample had triclinic structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) indicated that it consisted of rod-like particles with an average diameter of 100–150 nm and length over 5 μm. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) confirmed that the melting point of the ternary-flux and the formation temperature of Mg 2 B 2 O 5 were lower than single-flux process. The formation of Mg 2 B 2 O 5 nanorods was more efficient by ternary-flux than single-flux. Mechanical property of Mg 2 B 2 O 5 nanorods reinforced Nylon-6 composites showed that KH550 was the optimal coupling agent and made the strength of the composites to be improved to different degrees.