{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,29]],"date-time":"2026-10-29T12:24:36Z","timestamp":1793276676211,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]],"date-time":"2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747872000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia","award":["KFU251728"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["KFU251728"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The rapid advancement of sustainable materials has driven the need for high-performance polymer nanocomposites with superior mechanical, thermal, and structural properties. In this study, a novel RPET\/PA-11\/Joncryl\u00ae nanocomposite reinforced with halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) is developed for the first time, marking a significant breakthrough in polymer engineering. Six different proportions of HNT (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 phr) are introduced to the blend of rPET\/PA-11\/Joncryl\u00ae through a twin-screw extruder and injection moulding machine. The incorporation of HNTs into the RPET\/PA-11 matrix, coupled with Joncryl\u00ae as a compatibilizer, results in a synergistic enhancement of material properties through improved interfacial adhesion, load transfer efficiency, and nanoscale reinforcement. Comprehensive characterization reveals that the optimal formulation with 2 phr HNT (NCS-H2) achieves remarkable improvements in tensile strength (56.14 MPa), flexural strength (68.34 MPa), and Young\u2019s modulus (895 MPa), far exceeding conventional polymer blends. Impact resistance reaches 243.46 J\/m, demonstrating exceptional energy absorption and fracture toughness. Thermal analysis confirms enhanced stability, with an onset degradation temperature of 370 \u00b0C, attributing the improvement to effective matrix\u2013filler interactions and restricted chain mobility. Morphological analysis through FESEM validates uniform HNT dispersion at optimal loading, eliminating agglomeration-induced stress concentrators and reinforcing the polymer network. The pioneering integration of HNT into RPET\/PA-11\/Joncryl\u00ae nanocomposites not only bridges a critical gap in sustainable polymers but also establishes a new benchmark for polymer nanocomposites. This work presents an eco-friendly solution for engineering applications, offering mechanical robustness, thermal stability, and recyclability. The results form the basis for next-generation high-performance materials for industrial use in automotive, aerospace, and high-strength structural applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym17111433","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]],"date-time":"2025-05-22T08:49:57Z","timestamp":1747903797000},"page":"1433","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":20,"title":["Enhanced Mechanical and Thermal Performance of Sustainable RPET\/PA-11\/Joncryl\u00ae Nanocomposites Reinforced with Halloysite Nanotubes"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9143-0713","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zahid Iqbal","family":"Khan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Johor, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9486-0041","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammed E. Ali","family":"Mohsin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Unsia","family":"Habib","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Johor, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4599-0856","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Suleiman","family":"Mousa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3076-1161","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"SK Safdar","family":"Hossain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Syed Sadiq","family":"Ali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2603-0390","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zurina","family":"Mohamad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Johor, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Norhayani","family":"Othman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Johor, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1858","DOI":"10.1039\/D4EN00555D","article-title":"Safe and Sustainable Development of Advanced Materials: UK National Knowledge Sharing Network Workshops","volume":"12","author":"Clifford","year":"2025","journal-title":"Environ. 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