Fabrication and Properties of Carbon Nanotube/ Styrene- EthyleneButylene- Styrene Composites via a Sequential Process of ( Electrostatic Adsorption Aided Dispersion)-Plus-( Melt Mixing)

Carbon nanotube (CNT)/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) composites were prepared via a sequential process of (electrostatic adsorption assisted dispersion)-plus-(melt mixing). It was found that CNTs were uniformly embedded in SEBS matrix and a low percolation threshold was achieved at the CNT concentration of 0.186 vol %. According to thermal gravimetric analysis, the temperatures of 20% and 50% weight loss were improved from 316 degrees C and 352 degrees C of pure SEBS to 439 degrees C and 463 degrees C of the 3 wt % CNT/SEBS composites, respectively. Meanwhile, the tensile strength and elastic modulus were improved by about 75% and 181.2% from 24 and 1.6 MPa of pure SEBS to 42 and 4.5 MPa of the 3 wt % CNT/SEBS composite based on the tensile tests, respectively. Importantly, this simple and low-cost method shows the potential for the preparation of CNT/polymer composite materials with enhanced electrical, mechanical properties, and thermal stability for industrial applications. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40227.