PET-SWNT Nanocomposite Fibers through Melt Spinning

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)-single-walled carbon nanotube (PET-SWNT) nanocomposite fibers have been prepared through melt spinning and drawing. While acting as effective nucleating agents for PET melt crystallization, SWNTs also provide significant reinforcement to PET fibers. For example, the tenacity and initial modulus of the composite fiber with 1wt% SWNTs were, respectively, 1.8 times and 3.2 times higher as compared to those of the pristine PET fiber prepared under identical conditions. When the draw ratio was increased, tenacity and modulus of the fibers increased, indicating that drawing induced orientation of the polymer molecules and SWNTs. Thermal stability of the fibers was not significantly affected by the presence of SWNTs at low concentrations.