Carbon Nanotube and Nanofibre Reinforced Polyamide-12 Fibres
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Carbon Nanotube and Nanofibre Reinforced Polyamide-12 Fibres M.S.P. Shaffer1 ,J.K.W. Sandler2, S. Pegel2,3, A.H. Windle2, F. Gojny3, K. Schulte3, M. Cadek4, W.J. Blau4, J. Lohmar5, M. van Es6 1
Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AY, UK Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK 3 Polymer Composites, Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, D-21073 Hamburg, Ger 4 Materials Ireland Polymer Research Centre, Department of Physics, University of Dublin - Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland 5 Degussa AG, D-45764 Marl, Germany 6 DSM Research, 6160 MD Geleen, The Netherlands 2
ABSTRACT A range of multi-wall carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibres were mixed with a polyamide-12 matrix using a twin-screw microextruder, and the resulting blends used to produce a series of reinforced polymer fibres. The aim was to compare the dispersion and mechanical properties achieved for nanofillers produced by different techniques. A high quality of dispersion was achieved for all the catalytically-grown materials and the greatest improvements in stiffness were observed using aligned, substrate-grown, carbon nanotubes. The use of entangled multi-wall carbon nanotubes led to the most pronounced increase in yield stress. The degrees of polymer and nanofiller alignment and the morphology of the polymer matrix were assessed using X-ray diffraction and calorimetry. INTRODUCTION Although carbon nanotubes were observed at least as early as 1976, it was only more recently that their importance was recognised. Since then, enormous attention has been paid to their fundamental properties and related applications [1], including considerable efforts to exploit the remarkable mechanical properties of individual nanotubes in macroscopic composites [2]. Whilst some encouraging results have been obtained, significant improvements over conventional fillers have generally proved elusive, for a number of reasons. Therefore, it is particularly interesting to consider the use of nanotubes to reinforce structures in which conventional fillers cannot physically be accommodated, such as within micro-components, or fibre composite matrices. As an example, this study focuses on the fabrication and properties of nanofibre and nanotube reinforced polymer fibres. This approach necessitates the use of only small quantities of materials, readily enabling comparisons of different types of nanotube. The development of such nanocomposite fibres will involve the detailed study of dispersion, alignment, and matrix interactions, that will be fundamental for exploiting the full potential of bulk nanotube composites, whilst, at the same time, generating property enhancements that may be applied immediately. Earlier work, focussed on carbon nanofibre (CNF) reinforced PEEK fibres [3], showed promise, demonstrating that high quality fibres with excellent surface finish and
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filler dispersion could be obtained using simple thermoplastic processing. The resulting fibres had significant impr
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