Synthesis and characterization of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) nanocomposites incorporating multi‐walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) nanocomposites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared using a melt-blending process. Acrylic acid-grafted PTT (PTT-g-AA) and multihydroxylfunctionalized MWNTs (MWNTsÀOH) were used to improve the compatibility and dispersibility of MWNTs within the PTT matrix. The nanocomposites were characterized morphologically by transmission electron microscopy and chemically using Fourier transform infrared absorbance, 13 C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The thermal and mechanical properties of the blends were also evaluated. The functionalized PTT-g-AA/MWNT-OH blend showed markedly enhanced thermal and mechanical properties due to the formation of ester bonds from the condensation of the carboxylic acid groups of PTT-g-AA with the hydroxyl groups of MWNT-OH. The optimal proportion of MWNT-OH in the blends was 1 wt %. In excess of this amount, compatibility between the organic and inorganic phases was compromised.

Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

“…Initially, in-situ radical polymerization was applied for the synthesis of PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposites (Jia, 1999;Velasco-Santos, 2003;Putz, 2004). More recently (Wu, 2009) studied the mechanical and thermal properties of hydroxyl functionalized MWCNTs/acrylic acid grafted PTT nanocomposites and showed a significant enhancement in thermal and mechanical properties of PTT matrix due to the formation of ester bonds between -COOH groups of acrylic acid grafted PTT and -OH groups of MWCNTs. In-situ polymerization was also very useful for the preparation of polyamide/CNT polymer nanocomposites.…”

Effect of multiwall carbon nanotubes on thermomechanical and electrical properties of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

“…Xu et al 15 investigated the effect of MWCNTs on crystallization behavior of PTT and observed that MWCNTs provide more nucleation sites for crystallization. Wu et al 16 studied the mechanical and thermal properties of hydroxyl functionalized MWCNTs/acrylic acid grafted PTT composites and showed a significant enhancement in thermal and mechanical properties of PTT matrix due to the formation of ester bonds between -COOH groups of acrylic acid grafted PTT and -OH groups of MWCNTs.…”

Investigation of electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes‐reduced graphene Oxide/PMMA hybrid nanocomposites

“…Improved tensile modulus of functionalized SWCNT epoxy nanocomposites have been reported by Zhu et al . Enhancement in the thermal and mechanical properties of multi‐walled CNTs (MWCNTs)/poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) nanocomposites have been demonstrated by Wu et al in which MWCNTs are hydroxyl functionalized and PTT is acrylic acid grafted. Significant enhancements in the mechanical properties of functionalized SWCNT/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composites have been obtained by Liu et al .…”