Evolution of phase morphology and ‘network‐like’ structure of multiwall carbon nanotubes in binary polymer blends during melt‐mixing |
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| Authors: | Amrita V Poyekar Arup R Bhattacharyya Ajay S Panwar George P Simon |
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| Affiliation: | 1. IITB‐Monash Research Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, India;2. Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, India;3. Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Polyamide6 (PA6)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) blends with unmodified multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared via melt‐blending in a conical twin‐screw micro‐compounder with varying melt‐mixing time. To improve the state of dispersion of MWNTs, non‐covalent organic modifiers for MWNTs have been utilized: sodium salt of 6‐amino hexanoic acid (Na‐AHA) and 1‐pyrene‐carboxaldehyde (PyCHO). PA6/ABS blends with MWNTs have shown a phase morphology transition from ‘matrix‐dispersed droplet’ type to ‘co‐continuous’ type as a function of melt‐mixing time with the exception of 40/60 PA6/ABS blend with PyCHO‐modified MWNTs. Non‐isothermal crystallization studies revealed the heterogeneous nucleating action of MWNTs through the presence of double crystallization exothermic peaks (at ～192°C and >200°C) while pure PA6 shows bulk crystallization peak at ～192°C. 40/60 and 60/40 (wt/wt) PA6/ABS blends with 5 wt% unmodified MWNTs exhibited electrical conductivity values of ～3.9 × 10?11 S/cm and ～4.36 × 10?6 S/cm, respectively. A significant enhancement in electrical conductivity was observed with Na‐AHA and PyCHO‐modified MWNTs (order of ～10?6 and ～10?4 S/cm, respectively). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:429–442, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers |
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