Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene were used as reinforcing fillers in nylon 6,6 in order to obtain nanocomposites by\nusing an injection moulding process. The two differently structured nanofillers were used in their pristine or reduced form, after\noxidation treatment and after amino functionalisation. Three low nanofiller contents were employed. Crystallisation behaviour and\nperfection of nylon 6,6 crystals were determined by differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle X-ray diffraction, respectively.\nCrystallinity was slightly enhanced in most samples as the content of the nanofillers was increased. The dimensionality of the\nmaterials was found to provide different interfaces and therefore different features in the nylon 6,6 crystal growth resulting in\nimproved crystal perfection. Dynamical, mechanical analysis showed the maximum increases provided by the two nanostructures\ncorrespond to the addition of 0.1 wt.% amino functionalised CNTs, enhancing in 30% the storage modulus and the incorporation\nof 0.5 wt.% of graphene oxide caused an increase of 44% in this property. The latter also provided better thermal stability when\ncompared to pure nylon 6,6 under inert conditions. The superior properties of graphene nanocomposites were attributed to the\nlarger surface area of the two-dimensional graphene compared to the one-dimensional CNTs.
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