Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are covalently functionalized with isocyanates by directly reacting commercial hydroxyl functionalized MWCNTs with excess 4,4'-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) and hexamethylene diiosocyanate (HDI). HDI-modified MWCNTs results in a higher surface isocyanate density than MDI-modified MWCNTs. Anionic ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactam is conducted using a sodium caprolactam initiator in combination with a di-functional hexamethylene-1,6-dicarbamoylcaprolactam activator in the presence of isocyanate functionalized MWCNTs. This polymerization proceeds in a highly efficient manner at relatively low reaction temperature (150^oC) and short reaction times (10 min). During the polymerization, the isocyanate functionalized MWCNTs act not only as reinforcing fillers but also as second activators. Nanocomposites with HDI modified MWCNTs exhibit higher reinforcement and faster isothermal crystallization than MDI modified MWCNTs. The results show that PA6 chains grow more effectively from HDI modified MWCNT surface than from MDI modified MWCNT surface, resulting in stronger interaction between PA6 and MWCNTs. 

Keywords: PA6, MWCNT, Isocyanate, Nanocomposite, Anionic ring-opening polymerization