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Microstructure and shape memory effect of acidic carbon nanotubes reinforced polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Du FeiPeng,
Ye EnZhou,
Tang ChakYin,
Ng SunPui,
Zhou XingPing,
Xie XiaoLin
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.38807
Subject(s) - polyvinyl alcohol , materials science , microstructure , nanocomposite , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , scanning electron microscope , vinyl alcohol , carbon nanotube , dynamic mechanical analysis , casting , tensile testing , polymer
Specimens of acidic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (AMWNTs) reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposites (AMWNTs‐PVA) were prepared using different amounts of AMWNTs by the traditional solution casting, involving ultrasonic wave agitation. The microstructures and tensile properties of AMWNTs‐PVA were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and quasi‐static tensile testing. AMWNTs had good compatibility with PVA and dispersed evenly in the PVA matrix. The incorporation of AMWNTs improved the tensile modulus and strength of the PVA. The shape recovery testing revealed the shape recovery capacity of AMWNTs‐PVA. It was observed that the recovery ratio increased, and the shape recovery rate slightly decrease with the increase of AMWNTs content. The results showed that the AMWNTs had strong interaction with the segments of the PVA and hence affected the shape recovery behavior of PVA. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013