Electrospun copolyamide mats modified by functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes

Abstract

In this article, we report the preparation and properties of electro-conductive mats based on the commercial copolyamide (Vestamelt X1010) and multiwall carbon nanotubes functionalized by amino groups. Vestamelt X1010 is easily soluble in n-propanol at room temperature up to a concentration of 18 wt%. This is a significant advantage of this system because n-propanol is considered to be a safe and relatively environmentally friendly solvent compared with the organic solvents and acids frequently used for electrospinning of common synthetic polymers. The co-polyamide nanofibers were modified by multiwall carbon nanotubes grafted by amino groups to enhance their electrical conductivity at low filler content. The percolation threshold was found to be 0.33 vol%. Some applications of these mats were demonstrated such as the capability for sensing a selected vapor (acetone) and for oil/water separation. It was shown that neat Vestamelt X1010 mats remove around 85 wt% of oil (100 ppm of vegetable oil dispersed in water), whereas the addition of 1 wt% of CNTs enhances this ability up to 95 wt%. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1451–E1460, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers