Coagulation method for preparing single‐walled carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) composites and their modulus, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability

TLDR

The study uses a coagulation method to better disperse single‑walled carbon nanotubes in a polymer matrix, producing SWNT/PMMA composites. The authors fabricated aligned and unaligned SWNT/PMMA composites with purified SWNTs at loadings from 0.1 to 7 wt % using the coagulation method. The composites exhibited improved dispersion, resulting in higher elastic modulus, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability, although a 2 wt % aligned sample showed a significant drop in conductivity due to percolation effects. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3333–3338.

Abstract

Abstract A coagulation method providing a better dispersion of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in a polymer matrix was used to produce SWNT/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed an improved dispersion of SWNTs in the PMMA matrix, a key factor in composite performance. Aligned and unaligned composites were made with purified SWNTs with different SWNT loadings (0.1–7 wt %). Comprehensive testing showed improved elastic modulus, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability with the addition of SWNTs. The electrical conductivity of a 2 wt % SWNT composite decreased significantly (>10 5 ) when the SWNTs were aligned, and this result was examined in terms of percolation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3333–3338, 2003