Surface modification of MWCNTs with glucose and their utilization for the production of environmentally friendly nanocomposites using biodegradable poly(amide-imide) based on N-trimellitylimido-S-valine matrix

摘要

In the present investigation, the preparation, characterization, and surface morphology of poly(amide-imide) (PAI)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) bionanocomposites (BNCs) were the main goals of the study. At first, an optically active PAI based on S-valine as a biodegradable segment was synthesized. Then, carboxyl-modified MWCNTs were functionalized with glucose (f-MWCNT) as a biological active molecule in a green method to achieve a fine dispersion of f-MWCNT bundles in the PAI matrix. The existence of S-valine in the PAI matrix and functionalized MWCNT with glucose resulted in a series of potentially biodegradable nanocomposites. The obtained BNCs were characterized by various techniques. Field emission scanning and transmission electron microscopy micrographs of the composites showed a fine dispersion of f-MWCNTs in the polymer matrix because of hydrogen bonding and - stacking interaction between f-MWCNTs and polymer functional groups and aromatic moieties. Adding f-MWCNTs into polymer matrix significantly improved the thermal stability of BNCs because of the increased interfacial interaction between the PAI matrix and f-MWCNTs and also good dispersion of f-MWCNT in the polymer matrix. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.