Electrospun Nylon Nanofibers as Effective Reinforcement to Polyaniline Membranes

This research demonstrates that a nylon nanofiber (NNF) mat can be an effective mechanical reinforcement to polyaniline (PANI) thin films. Nanofibers of ca. 250 nm diameter were produced by electrospinning of a nylon 6 solution in formic acid. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the solution impregnation method utilized was effective to embed the nanofibers into the PANI matrix. The effectiveness of NNFs as a mechanical reinforcement of a PANI thin film was assessed via dynamic mechanical analysis in tension mode. The as-cast PANI films displayed a tensile dynamic modulus, E′, of ca. 0.65 GPa at room temperature. Scanning in the temperature showed that the PANI film has a usage temperature of up to about 80 °C, with this being limited by its glass transition temperature, and over this temperature range, the elastic modulus was nearly independent of the temperature. On the other hand, the PANI−NNF composite displayed a significantly higher tensile modulus at room temperature (1.1 GPa) and its usage te...