Effects of carbon nanotubes and their state of dispersion on the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam: II. Rheology

International audience; A rheometer-reactor was designed to study the effect of the presence of multiwalled-carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on the kinetics of the activated anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam (AAPCL). The presence of the MWCNT slowed down the kinetics of the AAPCL. Moreover, the higher the MWCNT content, the more important its adverse effect on the kinetics of the AAPCL. On the other hand, the presence of the MWCNT could also adversely affect the molar mass of the resulting polyamide 6 when its content was high enough (about 1.0 wt % or higher). Possible mechanisms are discussed.