Characterization of polyamide 6/multilayer graphene nanoplatelet composite textile filaments obtained via in situ polymerization and melt spinning

Vasiljević, Jelena (author), Demšar, Andrej (author), Leskovšek, Mirjam (author), Simončič, Barbara (author), Čelan Korošin, Nataša (author), Jerman, Ivan (author), Šobak, Matic (author), Žitko, Gregor (author), Van de Velde, Nigel Willy (author), Čolović, Marija (author)

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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: polyamide 6, graphene nanoplatelets, in situ polymerization, melt spinning, textile fibers, mechanical properties, thermal stability, flammability
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering; FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 19 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, iss. 8, art. 1787
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-134354
• UDC: 677
• ISSN on article: 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym12081787
• COBISS.SI-ID: 24970755
• Publication date in RUL: 10.01.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Polymers
• Shortened title: Polymers
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4360
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517951257

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 10.08.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: poliamid 6, nanoploščice grafena, in situ polimerizacija, predenje iz taline, tekstilna vlakna, mehanske lastnosti, termična stabilnost, gorljivost