Fabrication process was successfully used to embed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix, forming a composite nanostructure. For the composites, nanoindentation is often used to characterize their mechanical properties (e.g., hardness and Young's moduli). In this experiment, the varied concentrations of CNTs in PLA were analyzed in their mechanical performance. The distribution and conformation of CNTs in the PLA were studied by X-ray diffraction. Then, electrical characterization was performed by four-probe method.Thermal properties were checked by TGA and DSC. Furthermore, the CNTs/PLA nanocomposites were observed by SEM. According to the experimental result, purified CNTs showed better dispersing and properties in the CNTs PLA nanocomposites.

In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were purified by using chemical method with different proportion of nitric acid and sulfuric acid liquid phase mixture. Carboxyl groups and other functional groups could be modified on the MWNTs surface. However, oxidation can damage the structure of carbon atoms on the surface of the carbon nanotube. Furthermore, the characteristic properties of MWNTs specimens were demonstrated by Raman spectrograph and Fourier transform infrared spectrum. The thermal properties and morphology of MWNTs were checked by Thermogravimetric analysis and Scanning electron microscope.

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In this study, we prepared nanocomposites comprising multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and polybenzoxazine (PBZ). The MWCNTs were purified through microwave digestion to remove most of the amorphous carbon and metal impurities. After purification, MWCNTs were treated with H 2 SO 4 /HNO 3 (3 : 1) to introduce hydroxyl and carboxyl groups onto their surfaces. Raman spectroscopy revealed the percentage of nanotube content improved after prolonged microwave treatment, as evidenced by the decrease in the ratio of the D (1328 cm ) bands. For the untreated MWCNTs, the I D /I G ratio was 0.56. After microwave treatment for 40 min, the value decreased to 0.29, indicating that the percentage of nanotube content improved. Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMAs) revealed that the storage moduli and the T g s of the MWCNTs/PBZ nanocomposites were higher than that of the pristine PBZ. This is due to the nanometer-scale MWCNTs restricting the motion of the macromolecular chains in the nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image revealed that the MWCNTs were well dispersed within the PBZ matrix on the nanoscale when the MWCNT content was less than 2.0 phr. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the nanocomposites decreased on increasing the MWCNTs content.

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