Polymer-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Via Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Processing

Abstract

The incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNT) into a polymer can enhance the polymer's mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. To aid in this effort, CNTs can be functionalized in order to increase their compatibility with the host polymer. The increase in compatibility serves to ensure a higher level of CNT dispersion and property transfer from the CNTs to the polymer matrix. The most commonly used method of nanotube functionalization is wasteful and environmentally unfriendly since it requires large amounts of toxic solvents. A solvent-free route to functionalization uses supercritical carbon dioxide as the processing medium. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were processed with monomer and initiator in supercritical carbon dioxide to determine if MWCNTs could be functionalized with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at the specified conditions. Grafting of PMMA to the walls of the MWCNTs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis.

Meeting Name

2010 AIChE Annual Meeting

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

CNT Dispersion; Commonly Used; Electrical Property; Fouier Transform Infrared; Functionalizations; Functionalized; Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes; Host Polymers; Nanotube Functionalization; Solvent Free; Supercritical Carbon Dioxides; Toxic Solvents

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2010

This document is currently not available here.

Share

 
COinS