Segregated conductive network of MWCNT in PA12/PA6 composites: Electrical and rheological behavior

In the present study, different quantities of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and an immiscible blend of polyamides, 50 vol%/50 vol%. Polyamide 12/polyamide 6 (PA12/PA6), are melt blending by extrusion to obtain conducting polymer composites. The rheological and electrical properties of nanocomposites are evaluated as function of nanofiller content. Both rheological and electrical percolation thresholds are calculated by graphical methods and fitting the experimental data to the well‐known power‐law expression. The low percolation thresholds are probably due to the high aspect ratio of the nanotubes, kept after the composite processing and to the preferential localization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the polyamides interface. This latter is predicted by the wetting parameter and finally confirmed by TEM micrographs. The mixing strategy followed, by using a PA12 masterbatch and an immiscible blend of polyamides, seems suitable to form a segregated conductive network in the matrix with low CNT quantities. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2679–2686, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers