Abstract
Polymer composites materials are the subject of extensive studies because of their novel properties compared with their constituent materials. Dispersion stability of sub-micron sized particles in the medium is important from the point of colloidal views. In the present study, dispersion of nano-materials in the matrix polymer is one of the most important problems to enhance their mechanical properties. We tackled this problem to carry out surface modification of the nano-materials, such as carbon nano tubes (CNTs), using amphiphilic polymers, polyNvinylacetamide (PNVA), synthesized thorough radical polymerization. Hydrogen bond worked between PNVA onto the modified nano-materials and hydrophilic matrix, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), to enhance surface adhesions and dispersions of the nano-materials in the matrix. As a result, the mechanical properties of their composites materials were strengthened. When CNTs were used in PVA, the transparency of the composite was also increased due to improvement of their dispersions. In addition, if the CNTs formed the networks in the composites, the highly conductive and transparent polymer composite films were fabricated.
Highlights
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, and are used as highly functional fillers in nanocomposites based on polymer resins (Han and Fina, 2011)
PSt particles with positive charges induced by VA-044 and PNVA or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were adsorbed on the surface of the CNTs through electrostatic interactions
The synthesized PSt particles, which were coated with PNVA or PVA, served as carriers of PNVA or PVA to be coated onto CNTs
Summary
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, and are used as highly functional fillers in nanocomposites based on polymer resins (Han and Fina, 2011). To improve the mechanical properties of CNT-polymer composites, it is important to ensure both uniform dispersion of CNTs in the matrix of the resin and adequate surface adhesion between the two materials. A polymer colloidal technique was used for the surface modification of carbon fibers to enhance the yield stress and elastic modulus of carbon/poly(methylmethacrylate) composites (Yamamoto et al, 2017). The method used in this study involves the facilitation of the adsorption of polymer particles on the surface of carbon fibers using electrodeposition or electrostatic interactions, to enhance adhesion between the CNTs and the polymer, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and their dispersion in the PVA matrix. The tensile strength of the polymer composite was measured using a tensile testing machine to investigate the influence of the surface modification technique using polymer colloids presented here in on the mechanical properties of the composite
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