Crystalline and tensile properties of carbon nanotube and graphene reinforced polyamide 12 fibers

The influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on the structure and mechanical properties of polyamide 12 (PA12) fibers was investigated. As seen from wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis the crystallinity index increases with incorporation of nanofillers due to nucleation effects. Marked improvement was noted for mechanical properties of the composites with increase in elastic modulus, yield stress and strength of the fibers. The most significant improvement of a factor of 4 could be observed for elastic modulus with the inclusion of 0.5 wt.% GnP. A comparative study was made between the fibers reinforced with CNTs and GnPs. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.