Polyacrylonitrile/Carbon Nanotube Composite Films

Abstract

Reinforcement efficiency of different types of carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been compared in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) films at nanotube loadings of 5, 10, and 20 wt %. The films are characterized for mechanical, dynamic-mechanical, and thermomechanical properties, electrical conductivity, as well as structural analysis. PAN/CNT composite films exhibit electrical conductivities up to 5500 S/m. Based on X-ray diffraction, PAN crystallinity was shown to increase with the presence of CNT. PAN-CNT interactions in the various composites were compared using conventional activation energy analysis. The strongest physical interaction between PAN and CNT was found in samples containing single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). CNT surface area was also measured using nitrogen gas adsorption and correlated with PAN-CNT composite film mechanical properties, in an effort to better understand PAN-CNT interactions for different CNT morphologies. Solvent behavior of various composite films has also been investigated. The presence of CNT was found to improve PAN solvent resistance.

A stochastic approach towards a predictive model on charge transport properties in carbon nanotube composites

“…The agreement is certainly good, particularly considering that the experimental points in ref [96] are at higher concentration that the ones calculated here. Further work to characterize the tunneling constant α for different materials can be performed and then applied to this model to studies composites based on those materials.…”

“…(4) was chosen to be 0.6 Å -1 , which has been calculated for PAN [76]. Results from the simulations on box sizes of 800x100x100 (nm) 3 and 1000x100x100 (nm) 3 were fit to the power law and compared to experimental results on the conductivity of PAN/CNT composites ( Figure 12) taken from references [92,96]. These longer samples with NT aspect ratios of 1:400 were chosen for comparison because they were statistically indistinguishable from each other while also being the largest samples with maximum NT lengths, which are closer to the experimental reality, as previously discussed.…”

“…Effect of simulation box's size on conductivity for NTs with a 1:400 AR.Figure 12. Power law curves from simulation data fit to experimental data from works by Guo et al[96] and Pradhan et al[92] …”

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(acrylonitrile) – based superior hydrophobic piezoelectric solid derived by aligned carbon nanotubes in electrospinning: fabrication, phase conversion and surface energy

“…Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is an ideal precursor for this purpose because it not only acted as a precursor for carbonaceous materials 41-45 , –CN groups of PAN could build the intrachain and interchain interactions in the PVDF matrix via secondary bonding 46, 47 .…”

Studies on Inter and Intra Molecular Hydrogen Bonding and Morphologies of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes/polyurethane-amide

“…These tubular formations may also be used as electrical conductive nanowire and optical wave guides [17]. Another important application is the AFM probe tip, where the small SWCNT bundles can be used for achieving high resolution, while the larger-diameter of polymer shell may provide rigidity and ease of handling [18]. Thus the FE-SEM image of PU/SWCNTs composite supports our claim that the SWCNT interaction with PUA of polymer matrix and form the tubular bundle, and further it gives as uniform PU/SWCNTs composites.…”