Journal
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
Volume 49, Issue 6, Pages 1471-1478Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2013.03.029
Keywords
MWCNTs dispersion in polymers; Sonication; MWCNTs functionalization; SEBS; Electrically conducting nanocomposite; Temperature sensors
Categories
Funding
- European Commission [317894-SWAN-iCARE]
- U.S. Army through the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies
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The accessible concentration of exfoliated and undamaged multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in polymer nanocomposites is an essential issue to the future of these materials. In this work, we report two methodologies directed at obtaining electrically conducting poly(styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene) (SEBS) nanocomposites with different MWCNT contents. The first depends on the time modulation of ultrasonication of toluene mixtures, whereas the second relies on the use of alkyl-functionalized MWCNTs (f-MWCNTs). UV-vis spectroscopy investigations and thermogravimetric analyses allowed the quantification of exfoliated CNTs incorporated in the SEBS mixture. TEM micrographs denoted that a prolonged sonication time (40 min) induced an extensive MWCNTs degradation (average length decreased of 40%), which affected the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. The f-MWCNTs appeared to be more effective in preparing SEBS nanocomposites due to the higher dispersion efficiency, negligible nanotube degradation and higher electrical conductivity. The temperature dependence of the resistance of the SEBS/MWCNT system was investigated in the range 20-60 degrees C to, explore its potential for sensor development. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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