Dispersion of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in Polystyrene

Polystyrene nanocomposites with functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), prepared by the in-situ generation and reaction of organic diazonium compounds, were characterized using melt-state linear dynamic viscoelastic measurements. These were contrasted to the properties of polystyrene...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecules 2002-11, Vol.35 (23), p.8825-8830
Main Authors: Mitchell, Cynthia A, Bahr, Jeffrey L, Arepalli, Sivaram, Tour, James M, Krishnamoorti, Ramanan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Composites
Exact sciences and technology
Forms of application and semi-finished materials
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Technology of polymers
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Summary:Polystyrene nanocomposites with functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), prepared by the in-situ generation and reaction of organic diazonium compounds, were characterized using melt-state linear dynamic viscoelastic measurements. These were contrasted to the properties of polystyrene composites prepared with unfunctionalized SWNTs at similar loadings. The functionalized nanocomposites demonstrated a percolated SWNT network structure at concentrations of 1 vol % SWNT, while the unfunctionalized SWNT-based composites at twice the loading of SWNT exhibited viscoelastic behavior comparable to that of the unfilled polymer. This formation of the SWNT network structure for the functionalized SWNT-based composites is because of the improved compatibility between the SWNTs and the polymer matrix and the resulting better dispersion of the SWNT.
ISSN:0024-9297
1520-5835
DOI:10.1021/ma020890y