Reinforcement effects of graphene oxide in polyamide 6 nanocomposite system synthesized by in-situ polymerization

In this study, the excellent enhancement in the mechanical properties and thermal properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) by the incorporation of very low content of graphene oxide (GO) was achieved. For example, the Young's modulus of PA6/GO nanocomposites with 0.5 wt% GO was 138 % higher than that of PA6. In addition, the thermal decomposition temperature increased from 341 degrees C of PA6 to 361 degrees C by the addition of only 0.5 wt% of GO. The detailed effect of GO on the structure (e.g. dispersibility, orientation, alignment, crystallinity, interfacial interactions) of the nanocomposites were investigated. Understanding the reinforcing effect of GO and its mechanism is important for the designing of polymer nanocomposites which can provide strong candidates for light weight and smart applications in various fields.