Tuning the dispersion of multiwall carbon nanotubes in co-continuous polymer blends: a generic approach

Melt-mixed blends of polyamide 6 and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PA6/ABS) with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared with the intention to develop conducting composites. A generic strategy, namely specific interactions combined with reactive coupling, was adopted to facilitate and to retain the 'network-like' structure of MWNTs during melt-mixing. This was facilitated by the sodium salt of 6-amino hexanoic acid (Na-AHA) and certain phosphonium based modifiers, where it was envisaged that these modifiers would establish specific interactions (either 'cation-pi' or 'pi-pi') with the 'pi-electron' clouds of MWNTs, as well as restricting them in the PA6 phase of the blends via reactive coupling. This route eventually led to a remarkable increase in the electrical conductivity and dielectric constant in the blends with MWNTs. Raman, FTIR and TEM investigations further supported these observations.