Prediction and optimization of mechanical properties of PA6/NBR/graphene nanocomposites fabricated by friction stir processing

Abstract

The friction stir process (FSP) method used to prepare polyamide 6 (PA6)/nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) nanocomposites with 1 wt% Graphene nanoparticles. Response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design were used to study the effects of four input variables including tool rotational speed (ω), shoulder temperature (T), traverse speed (S), and the number of passes (N) on tensile strength and impact strength of PA6/NBR/Graphene nanocomposite. In order to investigate the dispersion state of Graphene and the morphology of the PA6/NBR blend in the presence of Graphene, wide x-ray patterns (WAX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. Furthermore and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) was used to investigate the thermal properties of PA6/NBR containing 1 wt% Graphene nanoparticles. The results confirmed that at the optimum range of input variables, PA6/NBR/Graphene nanocomposite provided good thermal stability as well as the highest tensile strength, and impact strength. This is caused by the large surface area to volume ratio of the dispersed layered Graphene in PA6/NBR blends. Under optimal conditions of the rotational speed of 1200 rpm, traverse speed of 20 mm/min, shoulder temperature of 125°C, and number pass of 3, the maximum tensile strength and impact strength are 70.4 MPa and 70.3 J/m, respectively.