Polymer crystallization and precipitation‐induced wrapping of carbon nanofibers with PBT

Abstract

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have attracted significant interest because of their excellent mechanical, electrical, and physical properties. Recent advances in chemical functionalization strategies are anticipated to extend their utility in various applications. In this study, noncovalent methods of CNF functionalization utilizing solution crystallization and precipitation techniques were used to create hybrid nanostructures consisting of CNFs and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Key to this study is the finding that o-chlorophenol can be used as a suitable solvent to dissolve PBT to generate these nanostructures. PBT crystallization was documented via wideangle X-ray analysis and differential scanning calorimetry and was due to the nucleation effect of the CNFs. The sizes of the PBT crystals could be manipulated by altering the polymer concentration. The solution crystallization and precipitation techniques provide an alternative strategy to alter and control the nanostructure/polymer interface. The resulting nanohybrid structures may potentially find use in a broad range of applications including electronic devices, sensors, and as reinforcing agents in a polymer matrix.

Nanocomposites of polyamide‐11 and carbon nanostructures: Development of microstructure and ultimate properties following solution processing

“…With increasing concentration of the CNFs and thus increasing number of nuclei, the size of the spherulites should decrease, as observed in Figure 5. Similar effects of the concentration of the nanoparticles on crystallite size have been observed for other polymeric nanocomposites, i.e., nanocomposites based on high density polyethylene (HDPE),31 polyethylene (PE),23 Nylon‐6,6,32 poly (etheretherketone) (PEEK),33 and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) nanocomposites 34. Overall, Figures 3–5 suggest that concentrations of both polymer and nanostructures, the latter acting as nucleating agents in the polymer solution, define the morphology and the size of the crystals that encapsulate the nanoparticles.…”

Nucleation Mechanisms of Aromatic Polyesters, PET, PBT, and PEN, on Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes: Early Nucleation Stages

“…Therefore, in early nucleation stage there is a competition between electrostatic interactions and the flexibility of the chains. It was reported by García-Gutiérrez et al [32] and Mago et al [33] that NHSK of PBT nanocomposites based on carbon nanostructures can be obtained by injection molding and precipitation processes. If the morphology obtained for PBT/SWCNT in our study is compared to that reported by other authors, it seems that, due to the fast nucleation rate of PBT, crystals growth is similar to that observed in polyethylene, that is, by forming lobules in early nucleation stage.…”

Polyamine-Promoted Growth of One-Dimensional Nanostructure-Based Silica and Its Feature in Catalyst Design

“…The LPEI aggregates obtained via different cooling process were used for DSC analysis, and the typical heating curve was displayed in Figure 3 a. The integrated heat of fusion (denoted as S H ) on the heating curve was employed to judge the crystallinity [ 25 , 26 ]. By plotting the ratios of S H /S HO against m ice (where S H is based the samples obtained under the conditions in the presence of ice and S HO in the absence of ice), we compared the crystallinity of the LPEI aggregates.…”