Anomalous transfer phenomenon of carbon nanotube in the blend of polyethylene and polycarbonate

A contradict interphase transfer of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) is detected in the immiscible polymer pair of polyethylene (PE) and polycarbonate (PC). When laminated sheets composed of PE with MWCNTs and PC are annealed in the molten state of both polymers, MWCNTs are found to move from PE to PC. This transfer phenomenon is originated from the difference in the interfacial tension with the aid of Brownian motion. On the contrary, MWCNTs prefer to reside in the PE phase in the blend of PE, PC and MWCNTs, even when MWCNTs are first dispersed in PC. This result indicates that MWCNTs transfer from PC to PE. The opposite direction of the transfer is attributed to the PE molecules being adsorbed on the surface of MWCNTs, which are generated during mixing. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.