Specific Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes for Advanced Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

A novel approach to chemically functionalize multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for making advanced polymeric nanocomposites with liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) is presented. In this approach, two types of chemical moieties (i.e., carboxylic and hydroxyl benzoic acid groups) are selectively introduced onto the sidewalls of the MWCNTs. Fourier transform IR and Raman spectroscopy are used to examine the interaction between the functionalized MWCNTs and the LCP. The strong interaction between the functionalized MWCNTs and the LCP greatly improved the dispersion of MWCNTs in the polymer matrix as well as the interfacial adhesion. The dispersion of the MWCNTs in the LCP matrix is observed by optical microscopy and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy. As a result, the addition of 1 wt% MWCNTs in the LCP resulted in the significant improvement (41 and 55%) in the tensile strength and modulus of the LCP.

Chemical functionalization of graphene oxide for improving mechanical and thermal properties of polyurethane composites

“…It can be clearly seen that the curves shifted towards higher temperatures after adding FGO into the PU matrices. To assess the thermal stability, the temperatures corresponding to 2% (T 2% ) and 50% (T 50% ) weight loss of the composites were taken as the criteria [36]. The largest improvement of thermal stability was achieved for the FGO/PU composite with 1 wt% FGO.…”

Current Advances in the Carbon Nanotube/Thermotropic Main-Chain Liquid Crystalline Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Blends

“…We have a novel approach to chemical functionalization of MWCNTs for fabricating advanced polymeric nanocomposites with TLCP [53]. In our approach, two types of chemical moieties (i.e., carboxylic and hydroxyl benzoic acid groups) are selectively introduced onto the sidewalls of the MWCNTs.…”

“…Our group has been working on the preparation of high performance polymer composites from MWCNTs and a TLCP (Rodrun LC5000) [53][54][55][56]. We have a novel approach to chemical functionalization of MWCNTs for fabricating advanced polymeric nanocomposites with TLCP [53].…”

“…Recently we have studied the electrical conductivity of the TLCP (Rodrun LC 5000) nanocomposites with raw and different functionalized MWCNTs fabricated by a melt-mixing technique [52,53]. The electrical conductivities of the MWCNT/LCP nanocomposites are listed in Table 3.…”

“…In order to study the interfacial adhesion between different chemical groups on the surfaces of CNTs and LCP molecules, our group has recently chemically functionalized MWCNTs with different groups, such as carboxylic acid (-COOH) group [25,52,53], hydroxyl benzoic acid (-HBA) group [53,54], nitrophenyl (-C 6 H 4 NO 2 ) group [55,56], aminophylnyl (-C 6 H 4 NH 2 ) group [55], and benzoic acid (-C 6 H 4 COOH) group [55].…”