A COMPOSITE FROM SOY OIL AND CARBON NANOTUBES

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were stabilized in solution through sonication-induced polymerization of acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) monomer. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy showed that the resulting polymer coatings of nanotubes in solution were approximately 10–30 nm in thickness. Raman spectroscopy suggests that AESO intercalates Nanocyl bundles and coats the exterior of HiPco bundles. Using sonication a stable dispersion of as-produced carbon nanotube powder was formed. Mechanical measurements on macroscale composites samples showed modulus enhancement consistent with a lower bound rule of mixtures.