Analysis of Double Percolated Networks of Polyamide Chains/Carbon Nanotubes under Shear Flows

This study presents an analysis of networks comprised of polyamide 6 (PA6) chains and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) while exposed to shear flows. In order to fully capture the microstructural details of such nanocomposites, rheological experiments were performed in both linear and non-linear regions. Interpretation of the results of stress overshoot tests revealed the formation of very strong networks at comparatively low CNT contents. Such networks become more intensified with an increase of CNT content in a non-linear fashion and it takes higher stresses to break the structure and reach the equilibrium state under flow. The results showed such non-linearites are more pronounced at higher shear rates which are ascribed to the growing share of the secondary entanglements in the determination of the overall response of the system