Polyamides are widely used as engineering plastic materials for structural applications. In recent years several research groups have made attempts to improve the properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) by incorporation of unmodified or functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT). An increase of 115% in elastic modulus and of 124% in tensile strength of PA6 have been reported by researchers in the melt mixed composites of PA6 and MWNT (purified and COOH and OH functionalized) at 1 wt% MWNT level. It is also reported that poly n-butyl acrylate (pBA) encapsulated MWNT when melt mixed with PA6 enhances interfacial adhesion between PA6 matrix and MWNT. This leads to the increased yield strength and tensile modulus of composites with 1 wt% modified MWNT as compared to pure PA6 and PA6/unmodified MWNT, whereas elongation at break ultimate tensile strength and impact strength decreases considerably. Indeed a vast amount of effort has been put up in the last few years in the field of CNT based polymer composites in order to obtain Polymer/CNT composites, which can be utilized as a multifunctional material.
       As part of ongoing research efforts at IIT Bombay, in order to take into consideration the basic issues like homogeneous dispersion of CNT in polymer matrix and adequate interfacial adhesion among the phases, it is proposed that a novel CNT material i.e., SMA-g-MWNT will be developed. New SMA-g-MWNT material will be obtained by grafting acid functionalized MWNT with styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) dissolved in THF solvent. With this in view, the main objectives and several specific objectives to meet the desired goals are listed below.
       Objectives: To obtain high strength structural material by homogeneous dispersion of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) in Polyamide 6 (PA6) and to improve the interfacial adhesion between PA6 and MWNT. Melt mixing will be carried out utilizing functionalized MWNT as well as SMA-g-MWNT. Mechanical properties of these PA6/MWNT composites will be investigated. In addition, electrical properties of the prepared PA6/MWNT composites will be looked into.

       Specific objectives:
       * To prepare functionalized MWNT (f-MWNT) by dissolving unmodified MWNT in mixed acids
       * To prepare novel MWNT material (SMA-g-MWNT) by carrying out reaction between f-MWNT with styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer
       * To achieve homogeneous dispersion of MWNT and to improve adequate interfacial adhesion between mWNT and PA6. f-MWNT and SMA-g-MWNT will be utilized during melt mixing of PA6 and MWNT
       * To investigate the effect of incorporation of modified/unmodified MWNT on the state of dispersion of MWNT in PA6/MWNT composites
       * To evaluate the extent of interfacial adhesion between unmodified /modified MWNT and PA6
       * To investigate the effect of modified /unmodified MWNT on the thermal properties of PA6/MWNT composites
       * To investigate the effect of modified /unmodified MWNT on the mechanical properties of PA6/MWNT composites
       * To study the effect of modified/unmodified MWNT on the crystallization behaviour of PA6 matrix
       * To investigate the effect of incorporation of modified /unmodified MWNT on the electrical properties of PA6/MWNT composites
       * To establish structure property correlation