Polyamides carbon nanotube reinforcement

H. Meng, G.X. Sui, G.Y Xie and R. Yang, Friction and wear behavior of carbon nanotubes reinforced polyamide 6 composites under dry sliding and water lubricated condition. Composites Science and Technology, 69 (5), 606-611,2009. 

Zhang, L., Wan, C., and Zhang, Y. (2009) Investigation on ihe multi walled carbon nanotubes reinforced polyamide 6/ Polypropylene composites. Pofym. Eng ScL, 49, 1909. 

Zhao C, Hu G, Justice R, Schaefer D W, Zhang S, Yang M and Han C C (2005) Sjmthesis and characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes reinforced polyamide 6 via in situ pol3anerization, Po/ymer 46 5125-5132. 

It is well accepted that the good properties of the isotactic polypropylene as an engineering polymer matrix in thermoplastic composite materials and engineering blends are seriously affected by the inability of this polymer to develop an adequate level of interfacial interaction with polar components such as mineral fillers (calcium carbonate) and reinforcements (talc, mica, wollastonite), synthetic reinforcements (glass fibers, carbon fibers, and nanotubes), or engineering polymers such as polyamide, aliphatic polyesters, and so on. 

N. Mahmood, M. Islam, A. Hameed, S. Saeed, and A.N. Khan. Polyamide-6-based composites reinforced with pristine or functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced using melt extrusion technique. Journal of Composite Materials, 1-11,2013. 

Sandler, J. K. W. et al. A comparative study of melt spun polyamide-12 fibres reinforced with carbon nanotubes and nanofifares. Polymer 45, 2001-2015 (2004). 

Carbon nanotubes are being increasingly used for the reinforcement of plastics, including epoxy resins [57-59], polyamides [55, 60-62], polyimides [63], poly-silsesquioxane [64], polycaprolactam [65], polyethylene oxide [66], polyethylene [67, 55,62], polyurethane [67], ethylene-vinyl acetate [69-73], polyhydroxybutylene-co-hydroxyvalerate [75], ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer [73], and sulfonated polyarylene sulfone [53]. 

The most widely used reinforcements in nanocomposites are carbon nanotubes, layered clay, and nanoparticles. The most widely used polymer matrices are polyamides, nonpolar polymers, polyesters, epoxies, and polyurethane. However, this chapter will focus on nanocomposites which are made from both biodegradable fiber/fillers and biodegradable matrices, since only these composites truly justify the definition of eco-friendly and green nanocomposites. 

Sandler, J.K.W. Pegel, S. Cadek, M. Gojny, F. Es, M.V. Lohmar, J. Blau W.J. Schulte, K. Windle, A.H. Shaffer, M.S.P. A comparative study of melt spun polyamide-12 fibres reinforced with carbon nanotubes and nanofibres. Polymer 2004, 45, 2001-2015. 

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