Attaining toughness and reduced electrical percolation thresholds in bio‐based pa410 by combined addition of bio‐based thermoplastic elastomers and cnts

Abstract

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added to provide electrical conductivity to bio‐based polymer blends with improved toughness (based on commercially available Pebax thermoplastic elastomers and bio‐based polyamide 4,10). A preliminary study including three different Pebax grades was carried out to select the grade and the composition that would best improve the impact properties of PA410. Thus, tough multiphasic PA/Pebax/CNT nanocomposites (NCs) with enhanced electrical conductivity were obtained. The CNTs were added either: (1) in the form of pristine nanotubes or (2) in the form of a PA6‐based masterbatch. Hence, PA410/Pebax/CNT ternary NCs and PA410/PA6/Pebax/CNT quaternary NCs were obtained, respectively, up to a CNT content of 1 wt%. The ternary and quaternary NCs both showed similar mechanical and electrical properties. The electrical percolation threshold decreased with respect to previously studied corresponding NCs without Pebax, i.e., PA410/CNT and PA410/PA6/CNT, due to the partial volume exclusion effect of Pebax over the CNTs that were dispersed mainly in the PA matrix; materials with percolation concentrations as low as 0.38 wt% were obtained. With respect to mechanical properties, contrary to the NCs without Pebax, all the PA/Pebax/CNT NCs showed a ductile behavior and impact strength values that were from three to five‐fold higher than that of the pure PA410.