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Effect of carbon nanotube surface treatment on the morphology, electrical, and mechanical properties of the microfiber‐reinforced polyethylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate)/carbon nanotube composites
Author(s) -
Yesil Sertan,
Bayram Goknur
Publication year - 2012
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.37518
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , carbon nanotube , microfiber , scanning electron microscope , polyethylene terephthalate , ethylene glycol , ultimate tensile strength , polyethylene , high density polyethylene , compression molding , phase (matter) , polymer , chemical engineering , chemistry , mold , organic chemistry , engineering
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of carbon nanotube (CNT) chemical properties, CNT content, and molding temperature on the morphology, electrical, and mechanical properties of the microfiber‐reinforced polymer composites. These composites were prepared by extrusion and hot stretching the poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/CNT phase in high density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix. Surfaces of the CNT were modified by purification with strong acid mixture (HNO 3 : H 2 SO 4 mixture 1 : 1 by volume) followed by treatment with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). In situ microfibrillar composites were prepared with untreated and modified CNT. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses indicated that CNT were preferentially located in PET phase of the composites. SEM micrographs of the hot‐stretched composites pointed out the existence of PET/CNT microfiber structure in HDPE phase up to 1 wt % CNT loadings and the electrical resistivities of these composites were lower than 10 7 ohm/cm. Tensile strength values of the composites containing 0.75 wt % CNT increased from 44 to 52 MPa after PEG treatment due to the improved mechanical strength of PET/CNT phase. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013