The influence of reduced graphene oxide on the polyamide 6 nanocomposite characteristics

Abstract

Polyamide 6 (PA6) nanocomposites with high electrical and thermal conductive were formulated via melt processing of PA6 and different inclusion of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). These nanocomposites showed small percolation thresholds, and the optimum formation of conductive links occurred with 0.5 wt% and ̴3.0 wt% of RGO respectively. RGO is effective in terms of thermal stability, causing a char of 6.8% with only 2.0 wt% RGO content. The presence of 3.0 wt% RGO enhanced thermal conductivity by 62% and reduces the peak-heat release rate to 588 and 545 kW/m2 with RGO inclusions of 1.0 and 2.0 wt%, respectively. Crystallization examination confirmed that RGO enabled the crystallization of PA6 structure mostly through speeding up the formation of crystal nuclei, reaching a maximum and smallest crystal grain extent with RGO inclusion up to 2.0 wt% that improved the generation of the most unflawed crystalline matrix. With the dynamic rheological testing, frequency-independence of G′ and abruptly decreased phase angle at the small-frequency area via RGO content of 2.0 wt% signify an alteration from liquid-state to solid-state rheological performance and validate the development of percolation link structure with RGO in the function of a crosslinking factor. Enhancement of fire-retardant characteristics of PA6 was attained due to the inclusion of RGO owing to the improvement in the PA6 structure. Morphological research showed that RGO was spread uniformly in the PA6 structure. These tests show substantial capacity for the bulk manufacture of electrically conductive polymer/RGO nanocomposites.