Journal article
Nylon-6/Ti3C2Tz MXene Nanocomposites Synthesized by in Situ Ring Opening Polymerization of epsilon-Caprolactam and Their Water Transport Properties
ACS applied materials & interfaces, v 11(22), pp 20425-20436
05 Jun 2019
PMID: 31071257
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Clay-reinforced nylon-6 nanocomposites (NCs)-characterized by the full exfoliation of the nano-reinforcement-were introduced in the marketplace in the 1990s. Herein, we demonstrate, for the first time, that Ti3C2Tz MXene can be incorporated into nylon-6 to synthesize melt-processable nanocomposites with excellent water barrier properties (94% reduction in water vapor permeation). To intercalate the epsilon-caprolactam monomer between the MXene multilayers, the latter were first treated with 12-aminolauric acid, a low-cost, nontoxic, biodegradable, and long shelf life compound. Upon heating to 250 degrees C, in the presence of 6-aminocaproic acid, in situ polymerization occurred, yielding melt-processable nylon-6/MXene NCs that were, in turn, studied by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic vapor sorption analysis. Using the latter, moisture-sorption isotherms of a neat and a 1.9 vol % NC, at 60 degrees C, were fit to the Guggenheim, Anderson, and de Boer equation. Solubility, permeation, and diffusion coefficients of water through the NCs were measured as a function of temperature and found to be the lowest ever reported for nylon-6, despite the fact that, at similar to 1.9 and 5.0 vol %, the MXene loads were relatively low. This record low diffusivity is ascribed to the very large aspect ratios-500 to 1000-of Ti3C2Tz flakes and their dispersion. The water permeation rate is a factor of 5 lower than the best reported in the much more mature nylon/clay field, suggesting lower values can be achieved with further optimization. Lastly infrared spectroscopy spectra of neat and NC samples suggest the surface terminations of the 12-Ti3C2Tz flakes bind with nylon-6, limiting water adsorption sites, resulting in reduced solubility in the NC films.
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Details
- Title
- Nylon-6/Ti3C2Tz MXene Nanocomposites Synthesized by in Situ Ring Opening Polymerization of epsilon-Caprolactam and Their Water Transport Properties
- Creators
- Michael Carey - Drexel UniversityZachary Hinton - Drexel UniversityMaxim Sokol - Drexel UniversityNicolas J. Alvarez - Drexel UniversityMichel W. Barsoum - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- ACS applied materials & interfaces, v 11(22), pp 20425-20436
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society; Washington, DC
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- 69521MSII / Army Research Office
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Materials Science and Engineering; Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000470938500085
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85066485390
- Other Identifier
- 991019168958104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
- Nanoscience & Nanotechnology