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Composite fibers from poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl alcohol)‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Author(s) -
Fu Changfei,
Gu Lixia
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.38260
Subject(s) - vinyl alcohol , materials science , composite material , composite number , raman spectroscopy , ultimate tensile strength , thermogravimetric analysis , scanning electron microscope , carbon nanotube , dynamic mechanical analysis , polyvinyl alcohol , fiber , polymer , chemical engineering , physics , optics , engineering
High‐strength composite fibers were prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) functionalized with PVA matrix. Esterification between MWNTs and PVA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscope, and atomic force microscope. Homogeneous dispersion of PVA‐functionalized MWNTs in dimethyl sulfoxide was affirmed by optical micrographs and particle size analysis. The PVA‐functionalized MWNTs/PVA (1 wt %) composite fibers prepared by gel spinning and hot‐drawing process exhibited tensile strength and modulus as high as 2.1 and 34 GPa, respectively, showing a 75% increase in tensile strength and 35% increase in modulus compared with pure PVA fibers. The mechanical properties were also much higher than untreated MWNTs/PVA (1 wt %) composite fibers and carboxylated MWNTs/PVA (1 wt %) composite fibers. From wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectra analysis, higher mechanical properties of PVA‐functionalized MWNTs/PVA composite fibers are attributable to homogeneous dispersion of MWNTs in PVA matrix, stronger interfacial adhesion between MWNTs and PVA matrix, and uniaxial orientation of MWNTs along fiber axis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013