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 interfacial 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.