High‐performance thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites induced by hybrid application of functionalized graphene and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A hybrid polymeric system containing carbon nanofillers with different geometrical dimensions is proposed for strategic applications, particularly for electrical properties. Two different carbon nanofillers including functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (fCNTs) and functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (fGnPs) were added to thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to prepare single and hybrid nanofiller filled TPU through solution mixing. Sufficient exfoliation of the fGNPs in the single nanocomposites was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, while single filler and hybrid TPU nanocomposites containing fCNTs showed some re‐aggregation of these nanofillers. Linear rheology together with scanning electron microscopy revealed a proper exfoliation and dispersion degree for fGnPs and fCNTs, respectively. We have shown that simultaneous addition of fCNTs–fGnPs in the form of a hybrid system into the TPU made a large surface area available and strong interfacial interactions were formed between the hybrid network and the TPU matrix. This in turn led to electrical, thermal and mechanical properties, which were superior to those predicted by the mixture law. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48520.

Effects of critical interfacial shear strength between a polymer matrix and carbon nanotubes on the interphase strength and Pukanszky's “B” interphase parameter

“…The highest and the lowest levels of "B" are obtained for polysilsesquioxane/ MWCNT and PAN/MWCNT samples, respectively. The values of "s i " are also calculated using eqn (24). "s i " changes from 81.7 to 412.7 MPa for the samples.…”

“…22,23 As a result, improving the processing terms and using the modied/functionalized nanoparticles are recommended to solve these problems and promote the nanocomposite performance. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] The interphase region between polymer matrix and nanoparticles plays an important reinforcing efficiency in nanocomposites. [36][37][38][39][40][41] Moreover, the interphase region joins to the network in nanocomposites improving the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity.…”

Analysis of the Connecting Effectiveness of the Interphase Zone on the Tensile Properties of Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) Reinforced Nanocomposite

“…The carbon nanotubes (CNT) as ideal nanoparticles can add high stiffness and good electrical conductivity to polymer matrices. Additionally, the nanoscale diameter and large aspect ratio of CNT significantly improve the general properties of polymer CNT nanocomposites (PCNT) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. The van der Waals attraction between nanotubes leads the aggregation/agglomeration in the nanocomposites, which reduces the filler surface expanse and interrupts the networking level [18][19][20].…”

Effects of carbon nanotubes and interphase properties on the interfacial conductivity and electrical conductivity of polymer nanocomposites

“…Modeling techniques can investigate the roles of different parameters in the conductivity of nanocomposites. Recently, carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] and graphene [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] have attracted much interest by researchers. Some models have been developed for the conductivity of polymer CNT nanocomposites (PCNTs) assuming the filler arrangement, filler agglomeration, tunneling distance and CNT waviness, [31][32][33] but some indistinct equations and parameters limit their applications in calculations.…”