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Influence of Carbon Nanotubes on the Morphology and Properties of Styrene‐Butadiene Based Block Copolymers
Author(s) -
Staudinger Ulrike,
Satapathy Bhabani K.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.201700030
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , composite material , percolation threshold , carbon nanotube , nanocomposite , morphology (biology) , elastomer , percolation (cognitive psychology) , phase (matter) , dynamic mechanical analysis , elastic modulus , polymer , electrical resistivity and conductivity , chemistry , engineering , organic chemistry , neuroscience , biology , electrical engineering , genetics
Summary Structure property correlations in a styrene‐butadiene star block copolymer melt mixed with varying amounts of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were evaluated. The MWCNTs are well dispersed within the matrix and do not significantly impact the star block copolymer morphology or the glass transition temperature. The electrical percolation threshold was found to be at ∼1 wt% of MWCNT concentration. A distinct increase in Young's modulus could be observed at a nanofiller content of 0.1 wt% while maintaining the elastomeric matrix property profile, an observation in tune with the rule‐of‐mixture prediction. Additionally the existence of double yielding was detected in these nanocomposites with a pronounced first yield point indicating a significant enhancement of stiffness in composites with low MWCNT content. Analysis of elastic moduli using Halpin‐Tsai and two‐phase Takayanagi model revealed a matrix‐controlled elastic response without any interfacial contribution due to MWCNT incorporation.