Poly(adipic acid-hexamethylene diamine)-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Poly(adipic acid-hexamethylene diamine) (PA66)-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PACNT) were fabricated using amino multi-walled carbon nanotubes (AMWNT), adipic acid-hexamethylene diamine salt as reactants at 260–270 °C. The solubility of AMWNT in formic acid is improved after PA66 functionalization. PA66 was successfully grafted onto the surface of AMWNT to form a core–shell nanostructure. AMWNT are surrounded by PA66 chains with an average thickness of 3 nm. The length of PA66 chains on the surface of AMWNT decreases, with the content of AMWNT increasing. The thermal decomposition temperature of the composite is lower than that of PA66 functionalized carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The storage modulus of PACNT containing 5 wt% AMWNT is 2.8-fold that of PA66; and it increases as the content of AMWNT increases.