Dispersion, migration, and ‘network-like’ structure formation of multiwall carbon nanotubes in co-continuous, binary immiscible blends of polyamide 6 and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer during simultaneous melt-mixing

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were melt-mixed with 50/50 co-continuous blends of polyamide 6 (PA6) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). Blending sequence and moulding processes were found to have a strong impact on the conductivity of the blends with MWNT. Aggregated nature of the tubes, migration during processing and skin-core morphology generated during mould cooling step were found to be crucial parameters affecting the electrical conductivity of the blends. We report here the role of a reactive modifier: sodium salt of 6-amino hexanoic acid (Na-AHA) aiding in uniform dispersion of the MWNT in the 50/50 PA6/ABS blends and restricting the tubes utilizing specific interactions during melt-mixing in the PA6 phase in the blends. We further varied the MWNT to Na-AHA ratio from 1:1 to 1:15 to optimize the concentration of MWNT required in achieving lower electrical percolation threshold in co-continuous PA6/ABS blends. The associated percolation threshold was observed at ∼0.5 wt% MWNT with high dielectric constant.

Download Full-text

Influence of multiwall carbon nanotubes on the mechanical properties and unusual crystallization behavior in melt-mixed co-continuous blends of polyamide6 and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

Polymer Engineering & Science ◽

10.1002/pen.21392 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 49 (8) ◽

pp. 1533-1543 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Suryasarathi Bose ◽

Arup R. Bhattacharyya ◽

Liane Häußler ◽

Petra Pötschke

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Crystallization Behavior ◽

Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ◽

Multiwall Carbon ◽

Butadiene Styrene

Download Full-text

Scratch and Wear Resistance of Polyamide 6 Reinforced with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ◽

10.1166/jnn.2008.092 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 3176-3183 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Luis F. Giraldo ◽

Witold Brostow ◽

Eric Devaux ◽

Betty L. López ◽

León D. Pérez

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Sliding Wear ◽

Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Young Modulus ◽

Tensile Tests ◽

Polyamide 6 ◽

Melt Mixing ◽

Air Atmosphere ◽

Multiwall Carbon

While carbon nanotubes have been used for a variety of purposes, it was not known whether they can improve tribological properties of polymers. Polyamide 6 (PA6) has been reinforced with 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 wt% of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by melt mixing process and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scratching, sliding wear and tensile testing. TGA results for the air atmosphere show that MWCNTs shift the onset of thermal degradation to higher temperatures. Sliding wear tests show that the penetration depth decreases as the concentration of carbon nanotubes increases. However, the viscoelastic healing is hampered by the MWCNTs presence and the residual depths increase at the same time. Narrower scratch groove widths are seen in SEM for composites with MWCNTs, and scratch hardness increases. Tensile tests show an increase of 27% in the Young modulus value upon addition of 1.0% of MWCNTs. The stress at yield is also higher for the nanocomposites.

Download Full-text