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Fabrication of surfactant‐removed polymer composites with single‐walled carbon nanotube networks
Author(s) -
Zhang Cheng,
Wen Bin,
Gao Lei,
Chen Yongming,
Yang Mingshu
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.32722
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , materials science , composite material , composite number , scanning electron microscope , polystyrene , percolation threshold , microporous material , polymer , compression molding , percolation (cognitive psychology) , transmission electron microscopy , fabrication , nanocomposite , nanotechnology , electrical resistivity and conductivity , medicine , mold , alternative medicine , engineering , pathology , neuroscience , electrical engineering , biology
Polystyrene (PS) composites with a network of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were fabricated by using monodispersed PS micospheres. First, PS spheres and surfactant‐dispersed SWNTs were mixed in water, then a hybrid cake was obtained by filtration via a microporous membrane and the SWNTs were filled within the spaces of packed polymer spheres. At this stage, the surfactants for dispersing SWNTs were totally removed from the composites by a thorough washing. Then the composite films with SWNT networks were obtained by compression molding at 160°C. Structure of the composites had been characterized by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The present SWNT composites showed a low percolation threshold of electrical conductivities. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011