The effect of Mo6S3I6 nanowires on the thermal and mechanical properties of polyamide 12

Nanocomposites consisting of PA12 and Mo6S3I6 nanowires at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 wt.% were prepared by extrusion and characterised. Using electron microscopy it was confirmed that bundles of nanowires were present, whose size increases with increasing concentrations. Differential dynamic calorimetry showed that the nanowires act as a nucleating agent, increasing the crystallization rate and the overall degree of crystallinity, but at the same time the size of the crystals is decreased. As a result, Young's modulus was increased by 15% with the addition of only 0.5 wt.% of Mo6S3I6. The improved mechanical properties are attributed to changes in the polymer morphology and crystallinity.