Preparation and Performance of <scp>PA66</scp> /O‐ <scp>MMT</scp> / <scp>POE</scp> ‐g‐ <scp>MAH</scp> Composite Cable Tie

ABSTRACT Traditional PA66 cable ties rely on water absorption for plasticization to achieve toughness, but this leads to reduced strength, unreliable low‐temperature performance, and the need for additional conditioning processes. This study aims to develop a PA66‐based composite material that, in its as‐molded dry state, achieves mechanical performance comparable to, or even exceeding, that of water‐conditioned traditional PA66, thereby eliminating the need for post ‐ molding water absorption while meeting the requirements of high strength, high toughness, excellent low‐temperature performance, and rapid injection molding. A ternary composite of PA66/organically modified montmorillonite (O‐MMT)/maleic anhydride‐grafted polyolefin elastomer (POE‐g‐MAH) was prepared through melt blending. Systematic research revealed that the synergistic effect of O‐MMT and POE‐g‐MAH is key to achieving performance breakthroughs. O‐MMT, as a nanofiller, exhibits a dual effect of “nucleation promotion” and “growth restriction”: at a low content (0.5 wt%) and with good dispersion, it serves as an efficient heterogeneous nucleating agent, significantly enhancing crystallization rate and α‐crystal content, thereby improving modulus and strength; however, at a high content (2 wt%), its aggregation forms a network that hinders crystal perfection growth and restricts molecular chain mobility, leading to increased brittleness. POE‐g‐MAH plays a central role as a multifunctional compatibilizer and system architect: it not only achieves strong and tough bonding through interfacial reactions, forming a uniformly dispersed elastomer phase (approximately 285 nm) and realizing efficient toughening (impact strength of 72 kJ/m 2 ), but also significantly improves the dispersion of O‐MMT, synergistically optimizing the crystallization network of PA66. Through extrusion process optimization (500 rpm, 30 kg/h), the final composite achieved a balance of high tensile strength (58 MPa), high toughness, outstanding high‐temperature rigidity (storage modulus &gt; 250 MPa at 150°C), and good processability without requiring water absorption. This study provides effective material design and mechanistic insights for the development of a new generation of water‐free, high‐performance engineering plastic products.