Electrical and mechanical properties of nanocomposites of single wall carbon nanotubes with PMMA

The electrical conductivity and mechanical characteristics of nanocomposites from pristine and doped single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were measured. In highly purified HiPCO SWNT, a percolation threshold as low as 0.17 weight percent has been found. The conductivity value at saturation is about 17 S/cm. If the purified HiPCO SWNTs are doped with SOCl2, the percolation threshold does not change but the saturation conductivity rises to about 100 S/cm. The mechanical properties were investigated for the PMMA composite mixed with SOCl2-doped SWNT. A small content of doped nanotubes dramatically changed Young modulus, toughness and tensile strength as well.