Investigation on morphology and properties of melt compounded polyoxymethylene/carbon nanotube composites

Abstract

ABSTRACTPolyoxymethylene nanocomposites containing different contents of carbon nanotubes were produced by a two‐step melt compounding process using a twin‐screw extruder. The dispersion quality, thermal and mechanical properties, and the creep as well as the tribological behaviors of the nanocomposites were investigated. Morphological investigations show that the masterbatch dilution process significantly improves the dispersion quality of carbon nanotubes within polyoxymethylene matrix, and as a consequence, enhanced mechanical properties and creep resistance are gained. Furthermore, to predict the long‐term property based on the short‐term experimental data, the time–temperature superposition principle and Findley model were used. Master curves with extended time scale are constructed using time–temperature superposition principle to horizontally shift the short‐term experimental data. The simulated results confirm the reinforced creep resistance by incorporation of the carbon nanotubes into the polymer matrix even at extended long time scale. By contrast, the tribological performance of polyoxymethylene was remarkably impaired after adding carbon nanotubes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42639.