Neste trabalho, a poliamida 6 (PA6) foi tenacificada com o terpolímero de acrilonitrila-EPDM-estireno (AES), utilizando o etileno-propileno-dieno enxertado com anidrido maleico (EPDM-MA), como agente compatibilizante. As blendas foram preparadas em uma extrusora de rosca dupla corrotacional e, posteriormente, moldadas por injeção. As propriedades de resistência ao impacto, resistência à tração e a morfologia foram avaliadas. Os resultados indicaram aumentos expressivos na resistência ao impacto das blendas PA6/AES/EPDM-MA, em comparação com a PA6 pura. Contudo, o módulo elástico e a resistência à tração sofreram decréscimos, devido ao aumento da flexibilidade das blendas desenvolvidas. A blenda PA6/AES compatibilizada com 15% de EPDM-MA apresentou-se como um material supertenaz e dúctil na temperatura ambiente. As imagens obtidas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) indicaram que o acréscimo no teor do compatibilizante EPDM-MA favoreceu à presença de partículas mais refinadas e bem aderidas na matriz de PA6, estabilizando assim a morfologia da blenda. Em geral, a formulação da blenda PA6/AES/EPDM-MA (60/25/15%) apresentou potencial para aplicação de alto desempenho, com perspectivas para a produção de peças para suprir o mercado da indústria automobilista e da eletrônica.

Polymeric membranes are a highly viable technology for wastewater treatment, water purification, and other filtration operations. Accordingly, flat membranes were developed from extruded nanocomposites of polyamide 6 (PA6) and carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), varying the filler content to 1, 3, and 5 parts per hundred resin (phr). The membranes were produced using the phase inversion process through the immersion–precipitation technique. In total, eight membrane compositions were developed with solvent/polymer ratios of 80/20 (weight %). Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) was used as a pore-forming agent at a content of 10 phr. Thus, the characterizations performed were: solution viscosity, FTIR, contact angle measurement, SEM, AFM, water permeability test, and water vapor permeation test. The results showed that the high viscosity of membranes, excessive gelation time, and higher MWCNT contents contributed to a decrease and/or absence of flow. Through SEM images and water flow measurements, the significant influence of CaCl₂ was observed in modifying the membrane morphology (more interconnected porous structures), ensuring the presence of flow. The AFM images also confirm this phenomenon through the increase in roughness. Water vapor transmission increased with higher MWCNT content. These results demonstrate that PA6 and MWCNT membranes were effective for water filtration, only in those where CaCl₂ was used, and for water vapor initially.

The global shift toward sustainable industrial processes has increased the demand for advanced materials capable of performing under harsh conditions, with high-temperature polymer nanocomposites emerging as a key development area. This study investigates the fabrication of sustainable polysulfone (PSU)/medium-density fiberboard (MDF) nanocomposites through phase inversion, using PSU—a matrix known for its high glass transition temperature—as the base. Membranes were created by adding MDF residue at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 phr (parts per hundred resin). Characterization included analyzing polymer solution viscosity, ATR-FTIR, contact angle, SEM, porosity, equilibrium water content, average pore radius, tensile testing, and permeation performance. Incorporating MDF residue increased solution viscosity and affected porosity and the structure of the top layer. Mechanical testing showed MDF acted as a functional additive, improving the elastic modulus and tensile strength, and supporting overall structural stability under hydraulic stress. The membranes exhibited competitive water flux and maintained high selectivity (80–92% rejection; over 95% turbidity removal) at 1.0 and 2.0 bar. The 3 and 5 phr levels optimized performance, demonstrating that repurposing industrial waste within high-performance matrices is a practical approach for producing durable materials that meet the needs of energy systems and complex industrial separation processes.

This study investigates the development of mixed matrix membranes based on polyethersulfone incorporated with attapulgite for gas separation applications, addressing the existing gap regarding the use of this mineral in dense membranes obtained exclusively by solvent evaporation and its combined effects on microstructure and transport. The membranes were prepared by phase inversion via solvent evaporation, using solvent/polymer ratios of 75/25 and 80/20 and a thickness of 0.25 mm. The solutions were evaluated in terms of viscosity, and the membranes were characterized by structural techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), contact angle, mechanical properties (tensile testing), and water vapor permeation. The results showed that attapulgite incorporation promoted a reduction in surface roughness (up to ~40%) and a decrease in contact angle (from ~89° to ~68°), indicating increased hydrophilicity. In addition, water vapor permeability was influenced in a non-linear manner, with optimized performance observed at 3 wt% filler loading. Solution viscosities remained within ranges suitable for processing. Structural analyses indicated compatibility between the phases, while morphology changes dependent on filler content were decisive for transport behavior. It is concluded that attapulgite is a promising additive for fine-tuning membrane properties, enabling optimization of the sorption–diffusion balance and improvement of membrane performance in separation applications.