Reinforcing polyamide 1212 with graphene oxide via a two-step melt compounding process

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized from graphite powders via Hummers' method. Polyamide 1212 (PA1212)/GO composites were prepared via a two-step melt compounding process. First, GO concentrates were prepared via solution coagulation. In this method, a GO solution was mixed with an ethanol-soluble polyamide solution. The resulting product was melt-compounded with a PA1212 matrix. This method enabled GO nanosheets to be well-dispersed in a PA1212 matrix. GO, which functioned as a nucleation template, exhibited heterogeneous nucleation effect in the PA1212 matrix because of its large specific surface area. The mechanical properties of the oriented PA1212/GO composites improved efficiently compared with those of pure PA1212. Crystal orientation degree and crystallinity in the composites increased slightly when GO was added after drawing. The composites' reinforcing effect was mainly attributed to GO nanosheet alignment. These nanonsheets functioned as the nuclei to reinforce the entire oriented crystals.