Synthesis and characterization of chiral poly(amide-imide) composite thin films containing functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The chiral poly(amide-imide) (PAI) was synthesized by the direct polycondensation reaction of imide-dicarboxylic acid, N-trimellitylimido-l-phenylalanine with diamine and 1,5-naphthalenediamine. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/polymer composite films were prepared via dispersing of acid-functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNT-COOH) as reinforcement at MWCNT loadings of 5, 10, and 15 wt%. The PAI/MWCNT composite films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM results confirmed that the carboxylated MWCNTs were well dispersed in the polymer matrix. The thermogravimetric analysis data showed an improvement of thermal stability of composites containing the MWCNT as compared to the pure polymer. In this research, PAI/MWCNT composite 15 wt% was used as a novel and efficient adsorbent for removal of malachite green dye from aqueous solution.