Influences of Carbon Nanotube Networking on the Conductive, Crystallization, and Thermal Expansion Behaviors of PA610-Based Nanocomposites

Abstract

The electrical, crystallization and thermal expansion behaviors of polyamide 610 (PA610)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites prepared by melt mixing were investigated. Electron microscopy (Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy) revealed that a good dispersion of CNT and CNT network was obtained in the PA610 matrix. Addition of CNT to PA610 matrix led to polymer nanocomposites exhibiting higher electrical conductivity and lower thermal expansion. The network of CNT in the PA610 matrix, which can be tuned by the loading of CNT and the melt isothermal treatment, was found to play an important role in reducing thermal expansion and achieving higher conductivity. Furthermore, it was shown that significant reduction in thermal expansion in PA610/CNT nanocomposites was due to both thermally insensitive CNT and formation of CNT network.