Polyvinylchloride‐Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites: Thermal and Spectroscopic Properties

Abstract

Nanocomposites of single‐walled carbon nanotubes dispersed within polyvinylchloride have been obtained by using the solution path. High‐power sonication was utilized to achieve a good dispersion of carbon nanotubes. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that during the synthesis, processing, or thermal analysis of these nanocomposites the released chlorine is functionalizing the single‐walled carbon nanotubes. The loading of polyvinylchloride by single‐walled carbon nanotubes increases the glass transition temperature of the polymeric matrix, demonstrating the interactions between macromolecular chains and filler. Wide Angle X‐Ray Scattering data suggested a drop of the crystallite size and of the degree of crystallinity as the concentration of single‐walled carbon nanotubes is increased. The in situ chlorination and amorphization of nanotube during the synthesis (sonication step) is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy.