Improvement of Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube Composites through Chemical Functionalization

• DOI: 10.1021/cm034243c
• Publication Date: 2003-11-11T05:41:58Z
• Authors: Carlos Velasco-Sa...; Ana L. Martínez-H...; Frank T. Fisher; Rodney Ruoff; Victor M. Castaño
• Keywords: Surface Modification; In situ polymerization; Chemical modification

Chemically functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes were incorporated into a polymer matrix by in situ polymerization, to improve the transfer of mechanical load through chemical bond, which was demonstrated Raman and infrared spectroscopies. The resulting composite shows higher storage modulus (E') tensile strength than existing similar composites, with only 1 wt % nanotubes. E' at 90 °C is increased an outstanding 1135% glass transition temperature exceptionally raised ≅40 °C.