Published October 29, 2011 | Version 8632
Journal article Open

Functionalization and Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes/ Polypropylene Nanocomposite

Description

Chemical and physical functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) has been commonly practiced to achieve better dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in polymer matrix. This work describes various functionalization methods (acidtreatment, non-ionic surfactant treatment with TritonX-100), fabrication of MWCNT/PP nanocomposites via melt blending and characterization of mechanical properties. Microscopy analysis (FESEM, TEM, XPS) showed effective purification of MWCNTs under acid treatment, and better dispersion under both chemical and physical functionalization techniques combined, in their respective order. Tensile tests showed increase in tensile strength for the nanocomposites that contain MWCNTs up to 2 wt%. A decrease in tensile strength was seen in samples that contain 4 wt% of MWCNTs for both raw and Triton X-100 functionalized, signifying MWCNT degradation/rebundling at composition with higher content of MWCNTs. For the acid-treated MWCNTs, however, the tensile results showed slight improvement even at 4wt%, indicating effective dispersion of MWCNTs.

Files

8632.pdf

Files (1.2 MB)

Name Size Download all
md5:a5845a1ad5a66524499ded4b53b6871e
1.2 MB Preview Download

Additional details

References

  • Iijima, Nature 354 (1991) 56
  • F Thiebaud, JC Gelin. "Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Polypropelyne Composites: Investigation of Melt Processing by Injection Molding and Analysis of the Resulting Mechanical Behaviour", Int J Mater Form, Vol 2 Suppl 1:149-152, 2009
  • Jian Zhao, "A Literature Review on Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes and Their PolymerComposites", Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Cincinnati, October 2001
  • Shaffer MSP, Windle AH. "Fabrication & Characterization of Carbon Nanotube/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Composites", Adv Mater, 1999
  • Andrews R, Jacques D, Minot M, Rantell T. "Fabrication of Carbon Multiwall Nanotube/Polymer Composites by Shear Mixing", Macromol Mater Eng, 2002
  • Breuer O, Sundararaj U. "Big Returns from Small Fibers: A review of Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Composites". Polym Compos, 2004
  • Potschke P, Bhattacharyya AR, Janke A, Goering H. "Melt Mixing of Polycarbonate/Multi-wall Carbon Nanotube Composites", Compos Interf. , 2003
  • D. Bikiaris, A. Vassilou, K. Chrissafis, K.M. Paraskevopoulos, A. Jannakoudakis, A. Docoslis, "Effect of Acid Treated Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on the Mechanical, Permeability, Thermal Properties and Thermo-oxidative Stability of Isotactic Polypropylene", Polymer Degradation and Stability 93, 2008, 952-967
  • SP Bao, SC Tjong. "Mechanical Behaviours of Polypropylene/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites: The effects of loading rate and temperature", Material Science and Engineering A, 2007 [10] Bing-Xing Yang, Jia-Hua Shi, KP Promoda, Suat Hong Goh, "Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene using Polypropylene Grafted Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes", Composite Science and Technology 68, 2008 [11] J Rausch, RC Zhuang, E Mader, "Surfactant Assisted Dispersion of Functionalized Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes in Acqueous Media", Composites: Part A 41, 1038-1046, 2010. [12] Islam MF, Rojas E, Bergey DM, Johnson AT, Yodh AG, "High Weight Fraction Surfactant Solubilization of single-wall carbon nanotubes in water", Nano Lett, 3:269-73, 2003 [13] Y Bai, D Lin, F Wu, Z Wang, B Xing, "Adsorption of Triton X-series surfactants and its role in stabilizing multi-walled carbon nanotube suspensions" Chemosphere 79, 362-367, 2010 [14] M Bystrzejweski, A Huczko, H Lange, T Gemming, B Buchner, MH Rummeli, "Dispersion and diameter separation of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions", Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 345, 138-142, 2010 [15] D Bikiaris, "Microstructure and Properties of Polpropylene/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites", Materials, 3, 2884-2946, 2010