Abstract
Studies of the production of fiber-forming polyamide 6 (PA6)/graphene composite material and melt-spun textile fibers are scarce, but research to date reveals that achieving the high dispersion state of graphene is the main challenge to nanocomposite production. Considering the significant progress made in the industrial mass production of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs), this study explored the feasibility of production of PA6/GnPs composite fibers using the commercially available few-layer GnPs. To this aim, the GnPs were pre-dispersed in molten ε-caprolactam at concentrations equal to 1 and 2 wt %, and incorporated into the PA6 matrix by the in situ water-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam, which was followed by melt spinning. The results showed that the incorporated GnPs did not markedly influence the melting temperature of PA6 but affected the crystallization temperature, fiber bulk structure, crystallinity, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, GnPs increased the PA6 complex viscosity, which resulted in the need to adjust the parameters of melt spinning to enable continuous filament production. Although the incorporation of GnPs did not provide a reinforcing effect of PA6 fibers and reduced fiber tensile properties, the thermal stability of the PA6 fiber increased. The increased melt viscosity and graphene anti-dripping properties postponed melt dripping in the vertical flame spread test, which consequently prolonged burning within the samples.
Highlights
Polyamide 6 (PA6) is an important fiber-forming polymer with excellent melt processing, crystallinity, and mechanical, abrasion, and wear properties
Vacuum-dried ε-caprolactam monomer was melted in a Teflon chamber at 180 ◦ C on a temperature-controlled hot plate provided with a magnetic stirrer and placed inside a fume hood under an inert argon atmosphere
70–80 μm, it is apparent that dispersal of the microdiameter of approximately 70–80 μm, it is apparent that dispersal of the micro-aggregated species aggregated crucial toofprevent clogging of the filters andcontinuous spinneret in thespinning continuous melt is crucial tospecies preventis clogging the filters and spinneret in the melt process, spinning process, which is a prerequisite for preventing filament breakage and to obtain textile fibers which is a prerequisite for preventing filament breakage and to obtain textile fibers with reasonable with reasonable tensile properties
Summary
Polyamide 6 (PA6) is an important fiber-forming polymer with excellent melt processing, crystallinity, and mechanical, abrasion, and wear properties. In order to expand the use of PA6 plastic and textile materials in areas with more demanding performance requirements, such as the aerospace and automobile industries, the application of graphene has dramatically increased in the development of different high-performance electrically and thermally conductive composite and nanocomposite materials [1,2]. Graphene is an exceptional nanocarbon material with high specific surface area and outstanding electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Due to their 2D geometry, graphene-based materials have a larger surface-to-volume ratio compared to carbon nanotubes, which allows easier achievement of a continuous and conductive carbon nanomaterial network [9]. The exfoliation of graphene from graphite material is economically more favorable than the high-cost procedure for the production of carbon nanotubes [7]
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