Effect of Triton X-100 on MWCNT/PP composites

Abstract

A nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100, was used to treat multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and the Triton X-100-treated MWCNTs (TCNTs) were then mixed with polypropylene (PP) to prepare MWCNT/PP composites, followed by characterization using scanning electron microscopic, electrical, mechanical and thermal measurements. It was found that the best usage of Triton X-100 for the treatment of MWCNTs was 80 wt% based on the MWCNTs. The TCNTs could effectively improve the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the composites over pristine MWCNTs. The highest electrical conductivity of TCNT/PP composites was 2.1 Â 10 À2 S/cm at 10% TCNTs. Both MWCNTs and TCNTs could act as nucleating agents to promote the crystallization of PP but the crystallinity of PP decreased with increasing filler's content. Both fillers caused shifting of the crystallization temperature of PP to higher temperatures. The TCNT/PP composites showed the lower crystallization temperature and lower crystallinity than the MWCNT/PP composites at the same filler's content. The mechanisms for the results have been discussed.

The role of a silane coupling agent in carbon nanotube/polypropylene composites

“…12 Our group recently studied the effect of a non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-100, as a dispersing aid, on the electrical, mechanical, and crystalline properties of MWCNT/ polypropylene (PP) composites. 13 We found that Triton X-100 is able to significantly decrease the percolation threshold for electrical conductivity to result in a higher electrical conductivity. 13 Silane coupling agents also have been used in some applications for surface modification of nanoparticles for improving dielectric properties in organic-inorganic nanocomposites.…”

“…13 We found that Triton X-100 is able to significantly decrease the percolation threshold for electrical conductivity to result in a higher electrical conductivity. 13 Silane coupling agents also have been used in some applications for surface modification of nanoparticles for improving dielectric properties in organic-inorganic nanocomposites. 14 Silane coupling agents are organosilicon compounds that have two different groups: one that reacts with a polymer matrix and the other that reacts with fillers such as CNTs.…”