Electroconductive Polyamide 6/MWNT Nanocomposites: Effect of Nanotube Surface-Coating by in situ Catalyzed Polymerization

Preparation and analysis of morphologic and electrical properties of high-performance multi-walled carbon nanotube/polyamide 6 nanocomposites was achieved. The MWNTs were surface-coated by in situ polymerization of ethylene as catalyzed directly from the nanotube surface previously treated by a highly active metallocene-based complex. The so-produced polyethylene-coated MWNTs were melt-mixed with the PA6 matrix. Pristine MWNTs were also dispersed in PA6. The in situ ethylene polymerization/coating reaction allowed the destructuring of the native bundle-like aggregates leading to the preparation of nanocomposites with improved properties even at very low nanofiller content.