Amine functionalization of carbon nanotubes for the preparation of CNT based polyactide composites - A comparative study

Abstract

This work describes a comparison between two chemical functionalization strategies for the amine functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In the first procedure, the CNTs are functionalized in direct amination process that avoids the use of strong acids or acid chloride unlike the conventional functionalization methods whereas the second method is a two step procedure involving mild acid treatment followed by amidation. Both procedures allow not only to control of amine content on the CNTs surfaces’ but also to obtain remarkable degree of functionalization. The functionalization of CNTs is confirmed by analytical techniques like scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The modified CNTs with optimum amine content are used to prepare Polylactide (PLA) /CNT nanocomposites with improved properties through solution casting method.