Nylon 610 and carbon nanotube composite by in situ interfacial polymerization

Poly(hexamethylenesebacamide) (nylon 610) nanocomposites containing well dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were successfully produced via the in situ inter-facial polymerization of two liquid phases, one containing hexamethylenediamine in the presence of MWNTs and the other containing sebacoyl chloride. The processing consisted of dispersing acid-treated MWNTs in an aqueous phase containing a Triton X-100 surfactant. Scanning and transmittance electron microscopies showed that the individual MWNTs were uniformly dispersed in the nylon 610 matrix. Tensile tests of the composite sheet showed a 170% increase in the Young's modulus with slight increases in the tensile strength and the elongation at break (about 40 and 25%, respectively). This suggests an interaction between the acid-treated MWNTs and nylon 610. The thermal stability of the composite was also enhanced by the incorporation of MWNT into nylon 610 matrix. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.