Fabrication of PA6/MoS₂ nanocomposites via melt blending of PA6 with PA6/PEG modified-MoS₂ masterbatch

Modified MoS₂ (mMoS₂) was prepared by reacting MoS₂ with alkyl lithium and amine-terminated long-chain polyethylene glycol (APEG) derivatives via a one-pot modification process. The APEG on the surface of MoS₂ greatly limits the aggregation of MoS₂. After that, polyamide 6 (PA6)/mMoS₂ masterbatch was prepared via a solution mixing of mMoS₂ and PA6. Then, the PA6/mMoS₂ nanocomposites were fabricated through melt blending of masterbatch and commercial PA6. The structure and properties of mMoS₂ and PA6/mMoS₂ composites were investigated. The thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the PA6/mMoS₂ composites were slightly improved, and their tensile strength, Young’s modulus and storage modulus of PA6/mMoS₂ composites increased by up to 57, 110 and 200%, respectively, compared to those of the pristine PA6. Therefore, this study provides a convenient method for achieving enhanced interaction between the polymer chains and MoS₂, and APEG modification would be an effective method for producing well-dispersed MoS₂ composites with high thermal stability and excellent mechanical properties.