Improved Mechanical Properties by Grafting Nylon 6, 10 to Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

We have prepared nylon 6, 10 nanocomposites using functionalized single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) using our interfacial \textit{in situ }polycondensation method. To improve mechanical properties, SWNT were functionalized with specific groups --(CH$_{2})_{n}$COCl with n of 4 or 9 to facilitate covalent bonding between the SWNT and the nylon matrix via alkyl segments. After synthesis, the SWNT/nylon 6,10 nanocomposites were melt spun into fibers. Relative to nylon 6,10 prepared in the same manner, the 1wt{\%} SWNT/nylon 6,10 composite shows significant increases in tensile modulus (160{\%}), strength (160{\%}) and toughness (140{\%}) with only modest reduction in the strain to break. The alkyl segments at the SWNT/nylon 6,10 interface appear to be critical to observed improvements.