Vuluga, ZinaCorobea, MihaiElizetxea, CristinaOrdonez, MarioGhiurea, MariusRaditoiu, ValentinNicolae, CristianFlorea, DorelIorga, MichaelaSomoghi, RalucaTrica, Bogdan2018-07-25Vuluga , Z , Corobea , M , Elizetxea , C , Ordonez , M , Ghiurea , M , Raditoiu , V , Nicolae , C , Florea , D , Iorga , M , Somoghi , R & Trica , B 2018 , ' Morphological and Tribological Properties of PMMA/Halloysite Nanocomposites ' , Polymers , vol. 10 , no. 8 , 816 , pp. 816 . https://doi.org/10.3390/polym100808162073-4360researchoutputwizard: 11556/601Publisher Copyright: © 2018 by the authors.From an environmental and cost-effective perspective, a number of research challenges can be found for electronics, household, but especially in the automotive polymer parts industry. Reducing synthesis steps, parts coating and painting, or other solvent-assisted processes, have been identified as major constrains for the existing technologies. Therefore, simple polymer processing routes (mixing, extrusion, injection moulding) were used for obtaining PMMA/HNT nanocomposites. By these techniques, an automotive-grade polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was modified with halloysite nanotubes (HNT) and an eco-friendly additive N,N′-ethylenebis(stearamide) (EBS) to improve nanomechanical properties involved in scratch resistance, mechanical properties (balance between tensile strength and impact resistance) without diminishing other properties. The relationship between morphological/structural (XRD, TEM, FTIR) and tribological (friction) properties of PMMA nanocomposites were investigated. A synergistic effect was found between HNT and EBS in the PMMA matrix. The synergy was attained by the phase distribution resulted from the selective interaction between partners and favourable processing conditions. Modification of HNT with EBS improved the dispersion of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix by increasing their interfacial compatibility through hydrogen bonding established by amide groups with aluminol groups. The increased interfacial adhesion further improved the nanocomposite scratch resistance. The PMMA/HNT-EBS nanocomposite had a lower coefficient of friction and lower scratch penetration depth than PMMA/HNT nanocomposite.115352410enginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessjournal article10.3390/polym10080816PMMAHalloysite nanotubeNanoscratchFrictionMorphologyPMMAHalloysite nanotubeNanoscratchFrictionMorphologyGeneral ChemistryPolymers and PlasticsSDG 7 - Affordable and Clean EnergySDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and InfrastructureProject IDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/686165/EU/Injection moulding, casting and coating PILOTS for the production of improved components with nano materials for automotive, construction and agricultural machinery/IZADI-NANO2INDUSTRYinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/686165/EU/Injection moulding, casting and coating PILOTS for the production of improved components with nano materials for automotive, construction and agricultural machinery/IZADI-NANO2INDUSTRYFunding InfoFinancial support by the EU Commission through Project H2020-686165-IZADINANO2INDUSTRY_x000D_ is gratefully acknowledged.Financial support by the EU Commission through Project H2020-686165-IZADINANO2INDUSTRY_x000D_ is gratefully acknowledged.http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050468957&partnerID=8YFLogxK