The Role of α, γ, and Metastable Polymorphs on Electrospun Polyamide 6/Functionalized Graphene Oxide

Abstract

The present paper describes the addition of nitroxide-functionalized graphene oxide (GOFT) into polyamide 6 (PA6) micro- and nanofibers, which are obtained through electrospinning. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs demonstrate the presence of fibers. Tensile testing presents an unexpected and non-obvious behavior, in which the Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation simultaneously and remarkably increase compared to the pristine polymer nanofibers. GOFT induces the hydrogen bonding between the NH group from PA6 with the functional groups, thus promoting higher crystallinity of the polymer matrix. Nonetheless, deconvoluted curves by differential scanning calorimetry reveal the presence of two quasi-steady polymorphs (β and δ phases) contributing to 46% of the total crystallinity. This evidence suggests that their presence and high ratios are responsible for the unexpected and simultaneous enhancement of tensile properties.

Keywords: electrospinning; graphene oxide; polyamides; polymer nanofibers; polymorphs; tensile stress.