Premium
Influence of chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes on their dispersibility in alkyl methacrylate polymer matrix
Author(s) -
Faraguna Fabio,
Vidović Elvira,
Jukić Ante
Publication year - 2018
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.46113
Subject(s) - materials science , methyl methacrylate , carbon nanotube , polymer , nanocomposite , methacrylate , polymerization , polymer chemistry , poly(methyl methacrylate) , dispersion (optics) , alkyl , chemical engineering , radical polymerization , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , optics , engineering
ABSTRACT Nanocomposites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(methyl methacrylate‐ co ‐octadecyl methacrylate) (M/O) matrices and four different types of multiwall carbon nanotubes: pristine, oxidized (MWCNT–COOH), methyl ester (MWCNT–COOCH 3 ), and dodecyl ester (MWCNT–COOC 12 H 25 ) functionalized, were prepared in situ by radical (co)polymerization. The effectiveness of preparation of nanocomposites regarding dispersion and distribution of various MWCNT in polymer matrices was sized by Scanning electron microscopy. In case of PMMA matrix, the best dispersion and distribution were accomplished for MWCNT–COOCH 3 due to their chemical resemblance with polymer matrix. After the introduction of 10 mol % of octadecyl methacrylate in polymer matrix a fairly good dispersion and distribution of MWCNT–COOCH 3 were retained. The addition of 1 wt % of MWCNTs caused a significant reduction in the degree of polymerization of the PMMA matrix. But at the same time, the present MWCNTs increased storage modulus of PMMA nanocomposites except for dodecyl ester functionalized MWCNT. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135 , 46113.