Controlled two-step amine functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the preparation of polylactide/carbon nanotubes composites

This work describes a two-step chemical functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with hexadecyl amine (HDA). The major advantage of this procedure where the use of acid chloride has been avoided and the degree of CNTs surface functionality is controlled by tuning the reaction time. The method provides remarkable degree of fictionalization through direct amidation. The functionalization of MWCNTs is confirmed by analytical techniques like scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The modified MWCNTs were found to be soluble in common organic solvents and the solubility is found to be dependant on the amine content. The soluble MWCNTs with optimum amine content are used to prepare polylactide (PLA)/MWCNTs composite with improved thermal properties through solution casting process.