Dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in poly(aryl ether ketone) obtained by in situ polymerization

BACKGROUND: Recently, much work has focused on the efficient dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) throughout a polymer matrix for mechanical and/or electrical matrices. However, CNTs used as enhancement inclusions in a high-performance polymer matrix, especially in poly(aryl ether ketone) (PAEK), have rarely been reported. Therefore, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-modified PAEK nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ polymerization of monomers of interest in the presence of pre-treated MWNTs. RESULTS: This process enabled a uniform dispersion of MWNT bundles in the polymer matrix. The resultant MWNT/PAEK nanocomposite films were optically transparent with significant mechanical enhancement at a very low MWNT loading (0.5 wt%). CONCLUSION: These MWNT/polymer nanocomposites are potentially useful in a variety of aerospace and terrestrial applications, due to the combination of excellent properties of MWNTs with PAEK. (C) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry