Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Polymers and the Environment https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-023-02870-6 ORIGINAL PAPER Compatibilization of Immiscible PA6/PLA Nanocomposites Using Graphene Oxide and PTW Compatibilizer for High Thermal and Mechanical Applications Mohammad Javad Azizli 1,2  · Azam Ghadami 3  · Ehsan Vafa 4  · Katayoon Rezaeeparto 5  · Somayeh Parham 5  · Masoud Mokhtary 1  · Zahra Jahankhah 5  · Fatemeh Azizli 6  · Reza Bazargan‑Lari 7  · Ali Mohammad Amani 4 Accepted: 3 April 2023 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023 Abstract The aim of this work is synthesis a novel nanocomposite containing Polylactide (PLA) and polyamide 6 (PA6) reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) and poly ethylene-butyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) (PTW) compatibilizer during solvent-based method. For this purpose, GO was added to the nanocomposite with 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1 phr. Morphology, rheology and mechanical properties of nanocomposites were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and (DMTA) which showed rougher fracture surface due to the presence of compatibilizer and an increase in the amount of graphene oxide and better dispersion of graphene oxide. The results of experimental and theoretical stud- ies of mechanical properties showed that increasing the concentration of graphene oxide in the presence of PTW improved the tensile strength, impact strength and tensile modulus in the PA6/PTW/PLA system. The study of rheological properties showed an increase in storage modulus and complex viscosity, which also confrmed the role of PTW compatibilizer in better GO dispersion. So, PA6/PTW/PLA is a good candidate for mechanical and high thermal applications. Keywords PA6/PLA blend · PTW compatibilizer · Graphene oxide (GO) · Nanocomposite · Interface · Mechanical and thermal properties Introduction There is various type of polymers which is used in modern lives and industries such as automotive, bioengineering, biomedical, thermal, mechanical and so on [1–5]. Polylac- tide (PLA), also known as polylactic acid, is a biodegrad- able, semi-crystalline, or amorphous biopolymer made from renewable natural sources [6–8]. In fact, PLA is a type of aliphatic thermoplastic polyester that has hydroxyl and car- boxyl end groups [9]. Over the past two decades, due to its remarkable properties such as renewability, biocompatibil- ity, high transparency and modulus, biodegradability and the ability to replace oil-based polymers, it has received much attention [10–13]. These properties have made PLA commercially available. PLA is suitable for a variety of applications such as absorbable sutures, food and beverage packaging, surgical implants, bone regeneration substrates, porous scafolds for the growth of nerve tissue and textiles, like many other biodegradable polymers [14, 15]. Despite its convenient properties and applications, the complexity of using PLA in high value-added or durable applications * Mohammad Javad Azizli Mohammadjavad.azizli@gmail.com; Mohammadjavad.azizli@yahoo.com 1 Department of Polymer Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran 2 Saze Paidar Elahie Company (Linkran Industrial Group), P.O. Box: 1447813184, Tehran, Iran 3 Department of Chemical and Polymer Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 4 Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 5 Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, P.O. Box, 14857-33111, Tehran, Iran 6 Department of Computer Engineering, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran 7 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran