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Preparation and properties of metal-containing polyamide hybrid composites via reactive microencapsulation

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Abstract

Polyamide 6 microcapsules (PAMC) loaded with 2–8 wt% of Cu, Zn, or Fe and up to 30 wt% of Al particles are synthesized via activated anionic polymerization (AAP) of ε-caprolactam in suspension performed in the presence of the respective micro- or nanosized loads. The high-molecular weight porous PAMC are with typical diameters of 10–90 µm depending on the size of the metal filler particles. The latter are entrapped in the core of PAMC as proven by microscopy methods. The melt processing of the loaded microcapsules produced PA6/metal hybrid thermoplastic composites with homogeneous distribution of the loads without any functionalization. The crystalline structure of all PAMC and molded composites is studied by thermal and microfocus X-ray diffraction methods suggesting polymorph changes during the transition from PAMC to molded plates. Mechanical tests in tension showed that transforming Al-loaded PAMC into composites produces polyamide hybrids with higher modulus and strength at break. Measuring the conductivity and dielectric properties of the composites in linear and cyclic modes showed that 30 wt% of Al can change significantly the permittivity of the hybrid composites without increasing the conductivity of the PA6 matrix.

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Acknowledgements

This article is a result of the project TSSiPRO—NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000015—supported by the regional operational program NORTE 2020, under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund. The authors also thank for the financial support of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the frames of the strategic projects LA25/2013–2014, UID/CTM/50025/2013, and UID/FIS/04650/2013. Partial financing by PTDC/EEI-SII/5582/2014 and PTDC/CTM-ENE/5387/2014 is also gratefully acknowledged. ZZD appreciates the support of PETRA III (MiNaXS beamline) of the German Synchrotron Facility DESY, Germany (Project No. I-20130095 EC). Financial support from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK Program is acknowledged by SLM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Polymers and Composites/i3N, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal

    Carlos Brêda, Nadya Dencheva & Zlatan Denchev

  2. Center/Department of Physics, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

    Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez

  3. BCMaterials, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160, Derio, Spain

    Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez

  4. IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain

    Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez

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  1. Carlos Brêda
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  2. Nadya Dencheva
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  3. Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez
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  4. Zlatan Denchev
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Correspondence to Zlatan Denchev.

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Brêda, C., Dencheva, N., Lanceros-Méndez, S. et al. Preparation and properties of metal-containing polyamide hybrid composites via reactive microencapsulation. J Mater Sci 51, 10534–10554 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0274-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0274-0

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