Preparation of homogeneously dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotube/polystyrene nanocomposites via melt extrusion using trialkyl imidazolium compatibilizer

Well-dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)/polystyrene nanocomposites have been prepared via melt extrusion, using trialkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate-compatibilized MWNTs. Quantification of the improvements realized via transmission electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy image analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared and X-ray diffraction analysis show evidence for a pi-cation, nanotube-imidazolium interaction and the conversion from an interdigitated bilayer, for the imidazolium salt to an ordered lamellar structure, for the imidazolium on the surface of the MWNTs.