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A Solvent‐Free Dispersion Method for the Preparation of PET/MWCNT Composites
Author(s) -
Santoro Gonzalo,
Gómez Marian A.,
Marco Carlos,
Ellis Gary
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200900384
Subject(s) - materials science , masterbatch , nanocomposite , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , thermal stability , dispersion (optics) , polymer , crystallization , compounding , nanotube , modulus , solvent , carbon nanotube , chemical engineering , optics , engineering , physics , chemistry , organic chemistry
Abstract A simple, easily accessible solvent‐free method for the dispersion of MWCNTs into PET is proposed, based on the preparation of a microparticulate polymer/nanotube masterbatch via cryogenic impact‐milling and its subsequent melt blending with the bulk polymer. Thermal and mechanical properties of nanocomposites prepared using this method were evaluated as a function of nanotube concentration. Thermal stability was improved, and superior crystallization behavior of PET in the nanocomposites was observed. Significant improvements of around 25% in tensile strength and tensile modulus of the nanocomposites was achieved using this strategy, with only 0.25 wt.‐% MWCNT, compared to previous literature data where 1 wt.‐% MWCNT was employed.