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Specific Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes for Advanced Polymer Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Sahoo Nanda Gopal,
Cheng Henry Kuo Feng,
Li Lin,
Chan Siew Hwa,
Judeh Zaher,
Zhao Jianhong
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200901486
Subject(s) - materials science , surface modification , carbon nanotube , nanocomposite , polymer , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , raman spectroscopy , dispersion (optics) , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , scanning electron microscope , polymer nanocomposite , chemical engineering , physics , optics , engineering
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.