Rheological and electrical properties of polycarbonate/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites

Rheological and electrical properties of the polycarbonate (PC)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) were studied. The MWNT was funtoinalized by treating with the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The H2O2 treated MWNT was dried by thermal and freeze drying methods. From the morphological studies, the degree of entanglement of the MWNT was decreased after treating with the H2O2. For the H2O2 treated MWNT (thermal drying), the length of the MWNT was shortened compared that of the H2O2 treated MWNT (freeze drying). The rheological and electrical properties of the PC/MWNT (H2O2 treated) composites increased compared that of the PC/MWNT (untreated) composites. Also, the electrical conductivity showed higher value for the PC/MWNT (H2O2 treated, freeze drying) composites compared that of the PC/MWNT (H2O2 treated, thermal drying) composites. From the results of the morphological, rheological, and electrical properties of the PC/MWNT composites, it is suggested that the electrical and rheological properties of the PC/MWNT composites are affected by the MWNT-MWNT network structure, which is related with the MWNT morphologies such as the degree of aggregation and aspect ratio of the MWNT. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.