High dispersion ability of fluorene-based polyester as a polymer matrix for carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The high compatibility of fluorene-based polyester (FBP-HX) as a polymer matrix for multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is discussed. A low surface resistivity due to the fine dispersion of MWCNTs in FBP-HX and polycarbonate (PC) is reported. With a solution-casting method, a percolation threshold with the addition of between 0.5 and 1.0 wt % MWCNTs was observed in the MWCNT/PC and MWCNT/FBP-HX composites. Because of the coverage of FBP-HX on the MWCNTs, a higher surface resistivity and a higher percolation ratio of the MWCNT/FBP-HX composites were achieved compared with the values for the MWCNT/PC composites. In the MWCNT/FBP-HX composites, MWCNTs covered with FBP-HX were observed by scanning electronic microscopy. Because of the coverage of FBP-HX on the MWCNTs, FBP-HX interfered with the electrical pathway between the MWCNTs. The MWCNTs in FBP-HX were covered with a 5-nm layer of FBP-HX, but the MWCNTs in the MWCNT/PC composites were in their naked state. MWCNT/PC sheets demonstrated the specific Raman absorption of the MWCNTs only with the addition of MWCNTs of 1 wt % or above because of the coverage of the surface of the composite sheet by naked MWCNTs. In contrast, MWCNT/FBP-HX retained the behavior of the matrix resin until a 3 wt % addition of MWCNTs was reached because of the coverage of MWCNTs by the FBP-HX resin, induced by its high wettability. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010